Sri Lanka’s boat building industry regains resilience
Sri Lanka’s boat building industry has regained resilience in moving fast to secure the local and international markets while maintaining the normal production process, a leading boat builder said.
Many Lankan companies are involved in making boats and ships while 11 identified companies are in exports.
As a result the country is positioning to build boats to meet the post COVID-19 demand while continuing training for youth in the manufacture of boats, Director Administration of Neil Marine Company, Kapila Sumanapala told the Business Times.
Since its inception the company has emerged as one of the leaders in the manufacture of Fibre Glass boats in Sri Lanka, having collaborated with several industry leaders in Europe and many other countries.
The company’s boat yard is ISO certified, 5S, Lloyd’s and only uses raw materials that carry the highest certifications, he said.
It exports to the Netherlands, UK, Norway, Mid East, Africa, Maldives and many other countries and the boat design is done by naval architects from UK.
Neil Marine has linked up with the ILO (International Labour Organisation) to continue boat manufacturing facility in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu involving youth in the North and East, he revealed.
Funding for the two training programmes came from ILO assisted by Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
The Killinochchi manufacturing facility is now gathering momentum. Already more than 100 boats have been produced and disposed of. Presently the Cooperative Society is managing the activity assisted by the ILO, he disclosed.
Mullaitivu activity is still being assisted by Neil Marine and it is turning out to be another successful venture, he said.
The enthusiasm shown by the workers was very encouraging and the interaction they had with factory workers was unbelievable considering the fact that these youth were from war torn areas without any basic guidelines and facilities he added.
Training is being given to youth on mould making and production of day fishing boats by assigning a separate experienced technical trainer attached to Neil Marine.
On the advice of Neil Marine, the cooperative societies have put up shop floor facility and production activity continues in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu .
Celebrating 50 years of unparalleled quality and service, Neil Marine took the initiative of uplifting the Dengue Ward at the Negombo Base Hospital,Mr Sumanapala disclosed.
The company maintains a working relationship with the Vetus B.V, Netherlands-based marine engines, generators and technical equipment developer, manufacturer and trading company.
Neil Marine is also the exclusive distributor of the Vetus Brand in Sri Lanka, he added.