Essential read for ongoing port development projects
A continuous historical story over three millenniums has been made
readable by the facilitation provided through the coherent arrangement
of short sub titles under each of the eight chapter headings.
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Trade, Shipping, Port Policies & Economic Stability of Sri
Lanka - Millenniums in retrospect Author: Dr. M. H.
Gunaratne A Stamford Lake Publication |
The narrative is embellished by tables, annexures, diagrams, maps and
pictures providing the supporting wealth of authoritative information
obtained from authentic sources.
The material in the book supports the ongoing development in ports
and port policies with historical information covering different phases.
The main theme of the study appears to roll out a concept for a synergy
of trade, shipping and port policies of Sri Lanka in maximising the
advantages of its geographical location for sectoral benefits and the
benefit of the country at large as an action oriented strategy for the
future.
The book commences with a coherent account on Mahatitha's (Mantota)
rise as a hallowed entrepot centre in the first millennia, whilst the
Colombo Port is focused to have replicated the tradition as a
transshipment hub in global container trade during the last phase of the
second millennia. A dramatic follow-through is expected with the
Hambantota Port at the threshold of the third millennium for sustainable
economic development. The use of all ports similar to the past as a
platform to develop Sri Lanka is another option theoretically discussed
in the book bringing into the forefront the modern concept of value
addition at ports through logistics and 'supply chain management'.These
initiatives are expected to galvanise the development of trade and
national merchant shipping of the Country.
Prof. Peter Marlow, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University in
his foreword culls out the central theme: "This book provides both a
(long) historical and political perspective of the shipping industry and
ports policy in Sri Lanka.
It discusses synergies between them as well as institutional
arrangements to reinforce the national fleet, and examines the changes
that have affected the industry to date before looking towards possible
future developments.
In such a dynamic industry changes will always occur and success or
failure depends on how such changes are managed by companies or
governments." |
