FINANCIAL CHRONICLE — A prominent delegation from Sri Lanka has engaged with US maritime regulatory officials in Washington, D.C., to deliberate on maritime shipping oversight and to invite them to Sri Lanka, emphasizing its strategic significance as a key shipping hub in the Indian Ocean.
This delegation, which traveled to the United States in June, included discussions with Laura DiBella, the Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), along with her legal team.
The meeting was facilitated by Dustin Bickel, the Indo-Pacific coordinator at the US Embassy in Colombo, coinciding with the US Forum on Indian Ocean Ports and Supply Chains.
The Sri Lankan representatives comprised Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Presidential Special Envoy Hanif Yusoof, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, and CEO of Shippers Academy Rohan Masakorala, accompanied by Aritha Wickramasinghe and Shiran Dissanayake.
During the discussions, the parties explored the FMC’s role in overseeing international maritime transport and ensuring the reliability of supply chains.
The Sri Lankan delegation formally invited Chair DiBella to visit Sri Lanka, aiming to showcase the country’s pivotal function as a logistics hub in the Indian Ocean.
This initiative is part of a broader US State Department-funded effort designed to enhance trade relationships within the Indo-Pacific region.
As part of their visit, the Sri Lankan team also toured the Port of Baltimore, where they examined automated systems and digital logistics technologies to gain insights for the modernization of operations at the Port of Colombo. (Colombo/Jul20/2026)
