YoungShip Sri Lanka elects first female chairperson

From left: Rishantha Mendis and Maleena Awn

YoungShip Sri Lanka is shaping the future of the country’s maritime industry by empowering young professionals through opportunities to learn, share and collaborate whilst being part of a global network. 

The organisation celebrated its 10th anniversary on March 21, 2023, at Marino Beach Hotel in Colombo. The celebration earmarked an extra special day in the organisation’s calendar with the appointment of its first female Chair – Maleena Awn, to lead YoungShip Sri Lanka for the upcoming year.

Awn is Director Operations and a board member at Meridian Maritime Services Limited, a shipping agency and logistics company with 35 years of experience in the maritime industry. 

She was also the previous Vice Chairperson of YoungShip Sri Lanka for the year 2022 and has served on the committee since 2019, before being elected as Chairperson for 2023.  Founded in Norway, YoungShip International is a non-profit establishment with a dynamic and diverse footprint of over 4000 members in 30 countries, dedicated to promoting the interests and values of the next generation of maritime leaders. 

Having begun its local chapter in 2013, YoungShip Sri Lanka has now grown to a community of like-minded individuals from all areas of the industry who share a passion for the advancement and success of maritime in Sri Lanka. 

Working closely with the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) from its inception, the organisation aims to bridge the gap between veterans and budding youth in the shipping industry. 

The growth of YoungShip Sri Lanka has been unprecedented over the years, under the leadership of past chairs Mevan Peiris, Navin Perera, Hasitha Dissanayake, Jehan Rodrigo and Rishantha Mendis. 

Over the past year, the organisation has grown to 285 members, representing over 130 companies. 

To strengthen its commitment to building a more youthful and inclusive industry, the organisation signed MoUs with key associations to facilitate hands-on experience and training opportunities to budding professionals.  These include the Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA), Lanka Association of Ship Owners (LASO), Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA), Sri Lanka Ship Suppliers Association (SLSSA) and Association of Inland Container Depot Operators (ACDO).

Moreover, YoungShip Sri Lanka has also worked to provide educational discounts from the Institute of Shipping and Logistics (IOSL) and Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) on several courses to its members.  YoungShip Sri Lanka also appointed its Executive Committee for the new year. The members elect are as follows:

Chairperson – Maleena Awn (Meridian Maritime Services Ltd), Vice Chair – Nirmal Dissanayake (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd), Secretary – Prashan Fernando (Panama Shipping (Pvt.) Ltd), Treasurer – Sunera Wijesekara (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd), Assistant Secretary – Aruni Wijepala (Hayleys Energy Services Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd), Assistant Treasurer – Patali Karunarathne (Ceyline Holding (Pvt.) Ltd), Immediate Past Chair – Rishantha Mendis (Prudential Shipping), Shane De Alwis (Hapag Lloyd Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd), Imaad Hameem (Evergreen Shipping Agency Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd) and Shanga Jayawickreme (McLarens Group of Companies).