Colombo port to employ female gantry crane operators
View(s):Sri Lanka is set to have its first female gantry crane operators, a sector dominated by males, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said on Thursday.
“Normally there are male gantry crane operators in Sri Lanka. We changed that pattern. We have given that training to females. They are assuming duties on January 8 as gantry operators of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.,” the minister said at the opening ceremony of the Colombo Maritime Conference in Colombo targeted to engage school students to attract them to the shipping industry.
Commenting on the salary scale, he noted that employees could earn around Rs.100, 000 – 150,000 for those starting out with the normal training provided.
The Colombo Maritime conference is carried out for the benefit of school students with a vision to educate them about the industry and the job opportunities available, a media release issued by the ministry stated.
There was a participation of 500 students representing a number of schools and youth societies at the conference.
Female gantry crane operators are being trained by the Mahapola Training Institution of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the release said.