Business
‘Sri Lanka is a Union Country’, says global labour leader
ITF pledges expanded partnership with transport sector workers at Colombo Welfare Hub launch
In a landmark moment for Sri Lanka’s transport sector, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) unveiled The Palace—a brand new welfare facility for seafarers—while declaring its commitment to partner with the nation’s entire transport workforce.
ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton delivered a stirring message at the launch on March 20, hailing Sri Lanka as “a union country” with robust labour laws and a resilient worker-led culture; a rare endorsement from a global labour leader.
“I call Sri Lanka a union country because it’s a nation that takes pride in its labor laws and collective strength,” Cotton declared to a room of policymakers, shipowners, ship crews, ILO officials, women seafarers and maritime stakeholders.
“The ITF doesn’t just want to support seafarers—we’re here to partner with all transport workers, from railways to ports, to build a fairer future,” he said.
Located in central Colombo, The Palace—a collaboration between the ITF, its Seafarers Trust, and the National Union of Sri Lankan Seafarers (NUSS) —aims to transform the lives of maritime workers. The facility offers affordable lodging, family reunification spaces, counseling, and recreational resources for seafarers transitioning to and from grueling voyages.
Boa Athu, President of NUSS called it a “long-overdue sanctuary” for workers who sustain Sri Lanka’s economy through foreign remittances.
Cotton emphasized the timing of the launch amid global instability: “We’re in turbulent times—geopolitical shifts, climate crises, and economic uncertainty. But here, Sri Lanka’s unions have shown what solidarity can achieve. He noted NUSS’s growth from 7 to 30,000 members, calling it a “phenomenal” model for worker empowerment.
The ITF’s vision extends far beyond the docks. Cotton revealed he had met with railway workers the day prior, signaling broader ambitions.
Transport workers were the lifeblood of the global economy linking supply chains and keeping the world moving, and they were vital to successfully responding to the challenge of Covid-19. We mustn’t forget the risks that transport workers faced on the frontlines. Now, we must ensure they’re shielded from crises like climate change,” he said, framing the climate emergency as a “workers’ crisis” requiring urgent re-training for green energy transitions.
ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton unveils The Palace, in Colombo on March 20.
With partnerships spanning the UN Global Compact and International Maritime Organization, the ITF plans a Singapore forum to accelerate fossil fuel phase-outs.
“Seafarers here are already training for new energy technologies—but placing them in jobs remains a challenge,” Cotton admitted.
Referencing global political volatility—including U.S. leadership shifts—Cotton stressed the need for “predictable” worker alliances like the ITF. He praised Sri Lanka’s push to grow its maritime economy, including government plans to boost container capacity and recruit women into skilled and rewarding roles.
“The Palace isn’t just a building—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when unions, governments, and global partners unite,” Cotton said. “Sri Lanka’s workers are its economy. Safeguarding their wellbeing isn’t charity—it’s strategic,” he said.
As the ITF expands collaborations in Brazil, Mexico, and beyond, Sri Lanka’s transport sector stands at a crossroads. The Palace offers immediate relief for seafarers, but Cotton’s message signals a larger ambition: positioning the island as a beacon of worker solidarity in an unstable world.
For Sri Lanka’s 30,000-strong NUSS members—and thousands more in railways, ports, and tourism—the call is clear: the fight for fair conditions is now a global alliance.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
HNB FINANCE PLC has strengthened its Board with the appointment of four Independent Non-Executive Directors, effective September 8, 2026.
The new directors are Renuke Wijayawardhane, Shanti Gnanapragasam, Nabiha Mohamed and Dr. Thisuri Wanniarachchi, who collectively bring extensive experience in financial regulation, banking, risk management, corporate finance, investment strategy, development finance and public policy.
Wijayawardhane, an Attorney-at-Law and capital market professional, retired in July 2025 as Chief Regulatory Officer of the Colombo Stock Exchange after more than 31 years with the Exchange. His experience covers securities regulation, corporate governance, market infrastructure and compliance.
Gnanapragasam has over four decades of banking experience spanning treasury, risk management, credit and trade finance. She currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Cargills Bank, Wealth Trust and Vision Fund Lanka.
Mohamed is a corporate finance and investment professional who previously served as Lead Transaction Advisor at the State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit of the Ministry of Finance, where she led five divestiture transactions worth over US$600 million.
Dr. Wanniarachchi brings over a decade of experience in development finance, institutional reform and social protection, including work with the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka.
Prime Lands Residencies PLC has completed and officially handed over The Palace Gampaha, described as the largest planned gated residential community in Gampaha, to its homeowners.
The development, which commenced construction in 2021, is located two kilometres from Gampaha town and 100 metres from the Colombo-Kandy main road.
Spread across 13.5 acres, The Palace Gampaha comprises 480 two- and three-bedroom apartments in a ground-plus-three-floor development, with prices starting from Rs. 27.5 million.
The project allocates about 80% of its land to landscaped areas and common facilities, while the remaining 20% is used for apartment development. Facilities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, clubhouse, library, community kitchen, laundry, mini-mart and a daycare centre managed by the Lyceum Group.
The fully gated community also incorporates solar power for common areas, underground electricity cabling and a sewage treatment plant with water recycling facilities.
Prime Residencies said all statutory approvals required for the handover had been secured, including certifications from the Condominium Management Authority and registration of the Condominium Plan and Deed of Declaration.
Prime Group Chairman Premalal Brahmanage said the project reflected the company’s vision of creating large-scale residential communities designed to enhance the quality of life of Sri Lankan families.
The project is the latest addition to Prime Group’s portfolio of more than 70 gated community and apartment developments.
Sri Lanka’s Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) sector is losing ground despite the expansion of the industry in several regional markets, Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA) Chairperson Swabha Wickramasinghe said.
Wickramasinghe, re-elected for a third consecutive term at SLANA’s ninth Annual General Meeting last week said the continued difficulty in collecting Colombo Terminal Handling Charges (THC) as a separate land-based cost was among the key challenges facing the industry.
She said the practice placed Sri Lanka at a competitive disadvantage as principals consider the overall economics of operating through Colombo.
“When Sri Lanka becomes less commercially attractive compared with other regional destinations, the consequences eventually reach our members,” she said.
Wickramasinghe said a committee had been proposed at a recent meeting with the Minister and Deputy Minister to evaluate the THC issue, urging the authorities to expedite its appointment and review.
She also called for an early solution to the problem of uncleared salt containers at the Port of Colombo, which has resulted in delays in releasing empty containers.
With more than 75 NVOCC lines operating in Sri Lanka, she stressed the sector’s importance to regional trade, particularly links with India and China.
Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Sri Lanka should expand regional business while exploring areas such as bunkering, freight forwarding and e-commerce logistics.
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