Dr Sarath Obeysekera 

His excellency The President
(Thru Deputy  Minister of ,Ports  Aviation and Road Development) 

As the Chairman of the Advisory Board under the Export Development Board, I am reaching out to discuss an exciting opportunity for Sri Lanka, particularly in the context of developing our marine and offshore industry, including nautical tourism within the framework of a blue economy.

In recent years, the Export Development Board has been advocating for the development of Trincomalee, positioning it as a hub for the repair and construction of platforms as well as converted ships used in the oil industry. 

Notably, the Port Authority completed a feasibility study in 2021, funded by the Asian Development Bank, which outlined the potential of this initiative as a significant source of income generation for the country.

During my tenure as Chairman, I was involved in a subsequent feasibility study that identified Clappenburg in Trincomalee as an ideal waterfront location for establishing facilities where local and foreign contractors could operate.

 The Corporate Plan recognised the establishment of a shipyard and offshore construction yard as vital to generating foreign income and creating employment opportunities for our skilled workforce, many of whom are currently migrating abroad to pursue opportunities in countries like Korea, Romania, and the UAE.

With the foundational concepts already laid out, I respectfully request your Excellency to engage the Ministry of Ports, the Ministry of Industries, and the Board of Investment (BOI) to generate interest among large foreign conglomerates to invest in this venture.

Furthermore, while India holds certain development rights in Trincomalee, actual investment beyond IOC’s storage tanks has been minimal. 

We must also consider the underutilized development of the tank farm in Trincomalee, the pipeline from India to Sri Lanka, and potential projects such as the Adani wind power initiative and green hydrogen generation. Collaboration with foreign companies, including Tata, Abans, and L&T, alongside established Singaporean or Korean yards could catalyze the development of an offshore construction yard in Trincomalee.

Trincomalee’s potential for generating energy through wind, wave, or solar power structures is immense, and we should leverage our land and resources to build a competent offshore Center of Excellence in our port city.

While we are training engineers and software developers to drive digitalization, the need for skilled workers in the industry remains critical. Additionally, bringing in Chinese investment for a refinery in Hambantota and tank farm development in Trincomalee could further strengthen our industrial capacity.

It is essential to revolutionize vocational training to meet industry demands, which have, in the past, suffered due to political interference.

 By empowering our youth to work in our own heavy industrial sectors, we can stem the tide of skilled labor migration.

The Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the Ministry of Industries could undertake land development in collaboration with the Port Authority to manage the harbor front, creating necessary infrastructure such as berths and mooring buoys to accommodate ships and rigs.

To expedite the development of Trincomalee, I propose appointing a dedicated Minister or State Minister specifically focused on advancing the blue economy. This strategic leadership can accelerate initiatives to generate foreign income and create employment opportunities for our youth.

Thank you in advance for considering this vital proposal for the future of our marine and offshore industry.

 I look forward to your support in making Trincomalee a leader in blue economy initiatives.

Sincerely, 
Dr Sarath Obeysekera