<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">COLOMBO —</span>Senior executives from CMA CGM, one of the world’s
leading container shipping groups, have held high-level talks with the Sri
Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to explore a major expansion of their operational
partnership. The delegation, led by Central Procurement Director Colin Gout and
Head of Procurement Aditya Vikram Kapoor, met with SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama
Dissanayake and senior port officials to discuss the future of terminal
operations and logistics collaboration in the region.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">The meeting centered on moving beyond traditional
shipping agreements to identify new avenues for business cooperation. Industry
stakeholders, including representatives from Hayleys Advantis and the Ceylon
Association of Shipping Agents (CASA), were also present to discuss optimizing
the island nation’s port-led development. Key areas of the discussion included
enhancing operational synergy through better coordination between vessel
handling and procurement, identifying practical opportunities for future capacity
expansion in terminal management, and sharing global efficiency benchmarks to
streamline day-to-day port activities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">Following the formal discussions, the CMA CGM
leadership team conducted an extensive site visit to Colombo’s port facilities.
The delegation toured key operational zones, including pilot stations, to
observe vessel handling procedures and port management frameworks firsthand.
The visit is seen as a move to identify specific "on-the-ground"
improvements that could unlock further efficiency gains for the shipping line's
extensive fleet as it transits through the Indian Ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:
"Times New Roman",serif">Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a long-term
partnership, viewing the collaboration as a vital component for Sri Lanka’s
ambition to maintain its status as a premier maritime hub. By aligning the
technical expertise of CMA CGM with the strategic assets of the SLPA, the
officials aim to drive performance optimization and ensure the port remains
competitive in an increasingly complex global supply chain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>