The Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku

¶ 01 Beyond infrastructure, to meet industry needs and enter the international maritime arena with a better stake, we need qualified, skilled human resources. We will empower the Mahapola Training Centre to generate the required workforce. Sri Lankan seafarers can significantly contribute to the economy. The Merchant Shipping Secretariat has set a roadmap to increase seafarers to 50,000 by 2030 in collaboration with the private sector and State institutions.

¶ 02 As per NPP policy, we are bound to boom the economy and spread benefits nationwide. This year, we will re-evaluate the Trincomalee Port master plan for key sectors: oil terminal, cruise terminal and container terminal. The oil terminal will facilitate the restored oil tanks. For the cruise terminal, with rising tourist numbers per the national tourism plan, we need new destinations—thus, create them by building infrastructure. The container terminal will act as a transshipment base for the Indian Eastern Seaboard.

¶ 03 In aviation, first, we will amend the Act to facilitate: (1) domestic aviation where regulation was insufficient; (2) aviation tourism including ballooning, parachuting, paragliding, para-jumping, etc.; and (3) agricultural drones.