A further focus of the meeting was an awareness presentation by Ms. Maya Karunaratne on developing meaningful ESG strategies in the logistics and maritime sector. The discussion emphasized that ESG should not be seen merely as a marketing tool, but as a holistic business approach that supports sustainable development and helps companies respond to increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. Participants also explored how ESG monitoring can be integrated into existing KPI systems, including the tracking of fuels, electricity use, emissions, occupational health and safety, and anti-bribery and customs integrity controls. It was further noted that stronger ESG alignment is increasingly driven not only by regulation, but also by customer expectations and changing market demand.
The meeting also benefitted from a constructive and productive discussion among committee members on key sector developments. Participants exchanged views on the challenges arising from insufficient coordination between nationwide and maritime single-window systems, which continue to affect the ease of doing business in Sri Lanka. The discussion also underlined the importance of further advancing the digitalisation of port operational processes through closer dialogue with the relevant public stakeholders. In addition, members reflected on the ongoing impact of developments in the Middle East and noted that a full normalisation of shipping operations is expected to take time. We sincerely thank all participants for their active involvement, valuable perspectives, and continued commitment to strengthening exchange within the sector.