Seaways – May 2019

30   | Seaways | May 2019 Read Seaways online at http://www.nautinst.org/seaways

Conferences

SRI LANKA BRANCH SEMINAR – MARINE POLLUTION

Î The Sri Lanka Branch of The Nautical
Institute, in association with the General Sir
John Kotelawela Defence University (KDU)
recently conducted a seminar on the theme
‘Marine Pollution in Sri Lanka and its Maritime
Zones. Can we cope?’
The seminar was held at the main auditorium
of the KDU in Ratmalana and was attended by
nearly 150 participants from a wide range of
professional backgrounds, including the
Company of Master Mariners of Sri Lanka, the
Sri Lanka Navy, merchant navy officers, industry
professionals, marine engineers, lecturers and
students from maritime training institutes,
shipping companies, manning agencies etc.
The full-day seminar was declared open with
the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by NI Sri
Lanka Branch Chairman Prof Nalaka Jayakody
FNI, Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe AFNI – the
Vice Chancellor of KDU – and the sponsors.
The welcome speeches were delivered by the
Branch Chairman and the Vice Chancellor. These
were followed by a video greetings message
from the Chief Executive Officer of The Nautical

Institute, Capt John Lloyd FNI.

The first of our eminent presenters was Rear

Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe AFNI. who spoke on

his research topic ‘Mariners’ obligation to the

marine environment’.

This presentation was followed by Dr Dan

Malika Gunasekara PhD, using his expertise on

maritime law to speak on the current legal

regime governing cases of marine pollution.

Prof Mahesh Jayaweera PhD, senior lecturer

at University of Moratuwa, gave a very

interesting presentation on coastal pollution

and its effects on deep sea ecosystems. The

presentation, based on his recent research

findings, outlined the current realities and risks

facing the marine ecosystem and beaches.

DNVGL’s Country Manager Saman Athula

Kumarasinghe FIMarEst, a veteran Chief

Engineer, drew on his expertise and years of

experience as a class surveyor in his

presentation about MARPOL and related IMO

conventions. He emphasised the importance of

complying with the regulations in order to

protect the marine environment.

Capt Ravi Tissera AFNI, Commanding Officer

of the Sri Lanka Coastguard vessel Suraksha,

highlighted the Coastguard’s role in dealing

with ship-related pollution and oil spills, using a

recent oil spill in Colombo as an example.

Speakers were joined by past Chairman Capt

Harindra Perea FNI, Dr Terni Pradeep Kumara,

General Manager of the Marine Environment

Protection Authority of Sri Lanka, and Capt

Nalindra Jayasighe AFNI of the Sri Lanka Navy

for a lively discussion panel.

Prof Nalaka Jayakody FNI, Chairman of the NI

Sri Lanka branch, closed the proceedings with a

summing up that highlighted the responsibility

we all have to protect the marine environment

and ecosystem.

A copy of The Nautical Institute’s history, A

Nautical Odyssey, was presented to each

speaker as a token of appreciation. Capt Peshala

Medagama AFNI performed excellently as the

Master of Ceremonies. The vote of thanks was

delivered by Branch Secretary Capt Nish

Wijayakulathilaka AFNI.

Captain Nish Wijayakulathilaka AFNI

Opening the meeting by lighting the lamp

Dr Dan Malika Gunasekara PhD

Capt Ravi Tissera AFNI

NI Sri Lanka Branch members

Prof Nalaka Jayakody addressing the gathering

Prof Mahesh Jayaweera PhD

Discussion panel

Participants

Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe AFNI

Saman Kumarasinghe FIMarEST

NI Sri Lanka Branch members

Participants