Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake Returns as SLPA Chairman 📈

Maritime industry veteran Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake officially assumed office as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) today, 17 February 2026. This marks his third tenure leading the authority at a critical juncture for the logistics & shipping sector. • Strategic Leadership: A former Presidential Advisor and the first non-British President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK), Dr. Dissanayake brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors, including leadership roles at Aitken Spence PLC. • Key Objectives: His new term will prioritize: • Enhancing operational efficiency and digitalization. • Expanding capacity to meet the target of 15 million TEUs by end-2026. • Strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as the primary transshipment hub in South Asia. • Economic Context: The appointment follows a strong performance in 2025, where the Port of Colombo recorded a historic high of 8.29 million TEUs. Under his previous leadership, SLPA achieved its then-highest profit of Rs. 13.1 billion, and Colombo was ranked as the world's fastest-growing container port (1H 2018). • Infrastructure Focus: His tenure is expected to oversee the finalization of the East Container Terminal (ECT) and the West Container Terminal (WCT), which are pivotal for national employment and regional trade competitiveness.