Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Dr. Mahinda Parakrama Dissanayake as Presidential Advisor on Maritime, Ports and Logistics, strengthening the government’s focus on revitalising one of the country’s most strategically important economic sectors. The appointment was made with immediate effect under Article 41(1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The official letter of appointment was handed over on Wednesday at the Presidential Secretariat by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. Dr. Dissanayake has assumed duties in the advisory role on an honorary basis, underscoring what officials described as a service-oriented contribution to national policy at a critical time for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and trade positioning.
Dr. Mahinda Parakrama Dissanayake is widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced professionals in the maritime, ports, and logistics sector, with decades of leadership spanning both public administration and international engagement. He has served twice as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the state institution that oversees the country’s major ports, including the Port of Colombo, one of South Asia’s busiest transshipment hubs.
During his tenures at the SLPA, Dr. Dissanayake was closely associated with strategic port development initiatives, institutional reforms, and efforts to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving regional maritime environment. His leadership periods coincided with critical phases in port expansion planning and the strengthening of Colombo’s role in global shipping networks.
In addition to chairing the Ports Authority, he has also served as Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, placing him at the center of national policymaking on maritime trade, port governance, and logistics infrastructure. In that role, he was involved in coordinating policy between government agencies, port operators, and international stakeholders, while addressing regulatory and strategic challenges facing the sector.
Dr. Dissanayake’s expertise extends beyond Sri Lanka. He has worked with several international organisations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, contributing to research, advisory work, and policy dialogue on maritime transport, port management, and trade facilitation. His exposure to global best practices has long been cited as a key strength in aligning Sri Lanka’s port strategy with international standards.
The appointment comes as Sri Lanka seeks to maximise the economic value of its geographic location along major east–west shipping routes, while modernising port operations and improving logistics connectivity to support trade, investment, and industrial growth. Officials say the advisory role will focus on long-term strategic planning, institutional coordination, and positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive maritime and logistics hub in the Indian Ocean region.
