Sri Lanka must urgently capitalise on its growing maritime and logistics opportunities by strengthening competition, reducing investment risks and allowing the private sector to lead commercial expansion, US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairperson Laura DiBella said.

Addressing the 8th Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference, DiBella said Colombo’s strategic importance was increasing as a major transshipment point for US cargo, but warned that the current opportunity for rapid expansion would not last indefinitely.

Around 500,000 containers of US-related cargo, valued at approximately US$30 billion, currently move through the Port of Colombo, she said. The FMC’s growing interest in Colombo reflects the port’s importance to international supply chains and the potential for further growth.

DiBella said infrastructure development alone would not be sufficient to transform Sri Lanka into a stronger maritime hub. She called for an independent regulatory mechanism similar to the FMC to safeguard competition, monitor potentially anti-competitive practices and provide clearer rules for investors.

“A clear regulatory framework de-risks the market for foreign direct investment,” she said, stressing that competition was essential for encouraging investment and innovation.

She also urged the Government to act primarily as an enabler while allowing businesses to drive commercial expansion. According to DiBella, clearly defined roles between Government and the private sector were essential to unlocking Sri Lanka’s maritime potential.

She said seaports should remain at the centre of Sri Lanka’s economic development strategy, arguing that growth in maritime activity could generate benefits well beyond shipping and logistics through technology, innovation and related industries.

During a panel discussion, Brandix Sri Lanka CEO Ashraf Omar said Sri Lanka risked losing export competitiveness because of delays in moving goods through the logistics chain. He noted that manufacturers could reduce production times by several days only to see those gains lost when finished goods remained at ports or with freight forwarders.

Omar called for immediate digital solutions to reduce cargo-transfer times and enable goods to move more efficiently from factories to ships.

A.P. Moller–Maersk Singapore Managing Director René Piil Pedersen said Colombo could capture greater value by combining port terminals with warehousing and free-trade logistics facilities. He cited Singapore, where imported products undergo market-specific processing and labelling within free-trade zones before being re-exported, creating additional high-margin economic activity.

Pedersen also urged Colombo to prepare infrastructure to supply cleaner marine fuels, including green methanol, to international shipping.

FMC Commissioner Robert J. Harvey said Sri Lanka’s logistics sector should be treated as a competitive commercial enterprise, with transparent regulations needed to attract private capital and advanced technology.

During a visit to the Port of Colombo, the FMC delegation led by DiBella and Harvey also held discussions with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority on port operations, capacity development, services and future development initiatives.

The discussions highlighted the importance of Colombo’s continued capacity expansion, efficient services and stronger maritime connectivity as international shipping undergoes significant structural and technological change.