COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the governments of Ukraine and Denmark to allow the authorities of those countries to recognize the certificates of competency issued for Sri Lankan seafarers.
According to details, the seafarers holding the certificate of competency issued by Sri Lanka need to obtain an equivalent certificate of competency issued from the government of the foreign country to be employed in a vessel registered in the respective country.
For the issuance of such certificates of equal status, there should be a convention or Memorandum of Understanding between the relevant countries and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has already entered into such agreements with 30 foreign countries.
Entering into such agreement will generate job opportunities for a large number of Sri Lankan seafarers who have obtained the certificates of competency to serve in foreign vessels.
The Governments of Ukraine and Denmark have expressed willingness to enter into Agreements with Sri Lanka on issuing the certificates.
The Cabinet of ministers has given the nod for a proposal made by the Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga, to enter into Memorandums of Understanding with the Governments of Ukraine and Denmark relating to the recognition of the oceanic certificates of competency.
