CILT Sri Lanka, International Conference 2021

CILT Sri Lanka marked a successful milestone by conducting the International Conference 2021 virtually via Zoom with local and international participants from world over. The conference was held on 25th November 2021, from 02:00 PM to 06:00 PM followed by fellowship. The world was brought to a halt in 2020 with the onset of COVID-19, and ever since, our lives have never really been the same. The changes have not been easy, some temporary, some permanent. Yet throughout these challenges, one sentiment was evident, “People” are the most valuable asset for any organization. It is not money that makes the world go round, but the “People” that make each and every day livable, and this time it was the “People in Logistics” that rose to the occasion. From the delivery drivers and riders that brought us our food and supplies to the warehouses and the storekeepers to software developers and digital experts that made the human connection as easy as a click to the doctors and researchers that made living life with COVID, that much safer. It is no doubt that it is our humanity and ingenuity that kept us afloat. This year we wanted to celebrate our people, our hero’s for making life hopeful, meaningful, safe, secure and convenient in every way possible. If progress is to be made, mankind must learn that authentic harmony is the only way forward.

The conference commenced with the welcome note of Mr. Channaka De Alwis, CMILT, the CILT President followed by our Chief Guest DATO’ TS. Dr. Abd Radzak Abd Malek, FCILT address to the audience. The conference was conducted under five main segments and at the first segment Mr. Senthilnathan Shanmugam, Group CEO of EFL spoke of the role of people in the logistics sector and how his company EFL operated under trying times. Mr. Hiran Perera, Senior Vice President, Cargo Planning and Freighters, Emirates delivered his presentation in the aviation sector emphasizing people in the aviation and how operations were carried out to keep the world moving. In a world where people chase smarter things, digitalization has become an essential part of every industry. Dr. Ramesh Shanmuganathan, Executive Vice President/Group CIO of John Keels Group addressed the International Conference 2021 in the digital segment under the topic Smart Logistics, Unchained. Mr. Axel Herzhauser, Regional Managing Director – Middle East, Gulf, ISC, Indian Ocean Islands, Southern and Eastern Africa, CMA CGM addressed the Maritime sector while Mrs. Chamila Bandara, Director/CEO of Mountain Hawk Express (Pvt) Ltd, Licensee of Federal Express Corporation, Subsidiary of Hayleys Advantis Limited brought in insights to the Land segment. Mrs. Niroza Gazzali, Chairperson WiLAT Sri Lanka and the Event Chair of CILT Sri Lanka International Conference delivered the vote of thanks marking the successful completion of the first international virtual conference followed by networking and fellowship via breakout sessions.