HIP provides orientation to newly appointed Heads of Mission and Ambassadors from SL
Colombo (LNW): Seven newly appointed Heads of Mission and Ambassador designates from Sri Lanka recently received a comprehensive orientation on port operations and activities from the Hambantota International Port (HIP).
Tissa Wickramasinghe, the Chief Operating Officer of the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), took the opportunity to brief the diplomats on the port’s significant advancements over the past five years.
Wickramasinghe expressed the importance of this interaction, emphasising that it provided a platform to showcase HIP’s achievements and future plans. The aim was to highlight the positive impact on the region’s development and the national economy, thereby presenting the port positively on the international stage.
He noted that such sessions are essential to dispel any potential misinformation about the port circulating internationally.
During the session, the diplomats actively participated, posing insightful questions that were addressed by the relevant port officials present. The briefing covered various aspects of HIP’s services, including port services, Integrated Logistics, Marine Services, Port-related Industries development, Bunkering, and the role of Hambantota International Port Services.
The diplomats were provided with an overview of integrated logistics, industrial parks, port-based industries, marine services, the energy hub, and the port’s key business areas. Additionally, the presentation highlighted the Standards, awards, and accolades that the port has achieved.
The corporate social responsibility initiatives undertaken by the port over the past five years were also discussed. These projects included the Hope Village Development project, a fully-fledged PCR Testing Laboratory, Tissapura Junior School Development project, a fact-finding project on Human-Elephant Conflict, the Human-Elephant Peace Fund, the Electric Fence project under the Human-Elephant Peace Fund, Beach clean-up programs, and the installation of Garbage Collection Bins. The port has invested over USD 1.1 Million in these projects.
The Heads of Mission and Ambassador designates assigned to embassies and high commissions in various countries, including Italy, Egypt, Singapore, Bangladesh, Belgium, the European Union, Cuba, and Nepal, were accompanied by Ms. E. A. S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, Director General of HRD, Research & Training at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session proved to be a proactive exchange, fostering a deeper understanding of Hambantota International Port and its strategic role in regional and national development.
