8th Logistics Conference wraps with invaluable insights
Aiming to upgrade the expertise of naval logistics the 8th 'Logistics Conference - 2026' concluded at the Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda Auditorium of the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) in Trincomalee on 23 May 26. The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, upon the invitation of the Commandant NMA, Commodore Dinesh Bandara.
Organized by the Long Logistics Management Course (LLMC) No. 10, the conference aligned with the overarching theme, “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life”, ‘Clean Logistics 2030: Advancing end-to-end Logistics Excellence in Sri Lanka through Digital Advancement, Green Transformation and Transparent Supply Chain Governance.’
Delivering the keynote address, Senior Professor Ajantha S Dharmasiri of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, set an intellectually stimulating tone for the event. The symposium featured the presentation of seven insightful research papers alongside analytical panel discussions. The sessions were conducted under three sub-themes of; Digital Acceleration as a catalyst for Sri Lanka's Logistics Backbone, Integrating Green Transformation and Sustainability into end-to-end Logistics Systems, and Transparent Supply Chain Governance.
Addressing the conference, the Navy Chief opined that regional conflicts have exposed the fragility of global supply chains, making digital acceleration, green transformation, and transparent governance essential to transforming logistics from fragmented processes into a unified capability. He stressed that maritime safety and operational readiness depend directly on the strength of the logistics system behind the fleet. Urging participants to move beyond discussion, he called for actionable insights that would strengthen not only the Navy but wider systems.
The symposium drew a distinguished audience, including the Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy, the Commander Eastern Naval Area and a group of Director Generals. The gathering also comprised retired senior officers, Flag-rank Officers, heads of the Navy's Logistics Branch, officers from the Sri Lanka Air Force, foreign naval officers, and officer under trainees of the Naval and Maritime Academy, alongside academics and professionals from universities and training institutions.
