Capt. Nihal Keppetipola assumes duties as SLPA chairman

Capt. Nihal Keppetipola assumed duties as the 27th chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on June 22. On the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the appointment was made by Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, a professional in the field of merchant shipping, served as managing director of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) from 2008 to 2015. An old boy of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, he has served as a captain of several International shipping companies in container, conventional, gas and fuel shipping lines, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola joined the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in 1990 as a pilot, whilst serving at the Ceylon Shipping Corporation. He served as harbour master of the Port of Colombo from 1990 to 2006. Thereafter, Capt.Keppetipol served as director (operations) and from 2006-2008 as additional managing director of SLPA.

He rendered his service during the implementation of projects such as the Colombo Port Expansion Project, the Hambantota Port Project and the Colombo Port City Project.

Prior to assuming his duties as chairman of SLPA, he served as chairman Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation.