Sarathkumara Premachandra has been appointed as the Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). 

The official appointment was handed over to Premachandra by Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga at a special meeting held at the SLPA recently.  
Prior to this appointment, Premachandra was serving as the Regional Manager of Asian Terminals of CMA CGM, the world’s third biggest shipping line. 
Addressing the meeting, Minister Ranatunga stated that Premachandra’s appointment will add much value to the port operations in Colombo. 

The minister also said that there will be no political interference in the day-to-day handling of the Ports Authority activities and with this new appointment, he is certain that the efficiency of the port operations will be further improved. 

SLPA Chairman Dammika Ranatunga addressing the meeting stated that the new Managing Director will receive the fullest cooperation from the directors and the management of the SLPA in implementing the strategic objectives of the SLPA. 

Premachandra was one time SLPA Chief Operations Manager, Director Operations and Additional Managing Director, having begun his career in 1978 as a management trainee. 

He has wide experience in container terminal operations having held senior management positions at the Port of Fujairah and Westport of Malaysia, in addition to the SLPA terminals. 

He joined the CMA CGM group in 2002. France’s CMA CGM, based in Marseille, has the world’s third biggest container fleet, behind Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company. It also operates terminals worldwide through its Terminal Link and CMA Terminals units.