Aitken Spence strengthens maritime portfolio

Aitken Spence enhanced its venture into maritime education by increasing its shareholding in Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC), Sri Lanka's largest private higher education institution. The company first formed a partnership with CINEC in 2010.

"Consolidating our partnership with CINEC is a part of our strategy to strengthen our contribution towards positioning Sri Lanka as a regional hub for maritime services. Given an encouraging enabling environment we see opportunity for the private sector to spearhead the country's vision to exploit its strategic geographic location and skilled human resources to become the regional maritime hub", said, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC J M S Brito.

From left: Group Managing Director Ceyline Group of Companies, Captain Ajith Peiris Deputy Chairman Ceyline Group of Companies, Lucky Wickremanayake Deputy Chairman and Managing Director Aitken Spence PLC, J. M. S Brito Chairman of Aitken Spence Maritime and Director of Aitken Spence PLC, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake.

The Group's involvement with cargo and maritime logistics began from its inception, over a century ago. Aitken Spence has evolved to become a integrated logistics solutions provider, extending its services worldwide.

"The association with CINEC has helped Aitken Spence to strengthen its maritime portfolio.

Through the world class faculty and teaching facilities, the education and training instilled into the number of men and women who study in this institution results in maritime specialists who are equipped, not only to raise the profile of Sri Lanka's maritime industry but also to add value to the global maritime industry", said Chairman of Aitken Spence Maritime and Director of Aitken Spence PLC Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake.

The CINEC Maritime Campus was established in 1990 and is the only campus of its kind in Sri Lanka and the region.

It is known for the high level of quality instruction and training provided to students.

CINEC's objective is to create and foster healthy working partnerships with professional organisations and stakeholders in the maritime industry, while providing excellent employment opportunities to its maritime students and graduates.

The largest private education campus in Sri Lanka, CINEC's annual student intake is over 14,000 men and women. The state-of-the-art maritime campus has sophisticated laboratories that house up to date simulators and best in modern technology, which has won them approval by the Directorate of Merchant Shipping in Sri Lanka.

CINEC is affiliated to the University of Wolverhampton in the UK as well as to the University of South Australia in Adelaide.

In June 2009, CINEC signed up with Dalian Maritime University of China to conduct BSc and MBA degree programs in the fields of Information Technology, International Transportation Management, Planning and Logistics Management and Supply

Chain Management. This was the first branch of its kind opened by the Dalian Maritime University.