Accordingly, these continue discharge certificates will be issued under a protected computerized system.

The Merchant Shipping Secretariat which is under the Ministry of Ports and Shipping performs the regulation of the maritime merchant activities in Sri Lanka. It also compiles and implements the laws related to these activities.

It is essential for all naval officers who are employed in the ships to take this continuous discharge certificates.

Hitherto, there was no modern technological method to provide these certificates to sea-men. Therefore, merchant navy officers, ship owners and other related parties had to face with numerous difficulties. That situation had an access for people without proper qualifications to enter into the jobs in the field through false certificates. This also tended to damage the international reputation of Sri Lanka.

With the introduction of this new method to issue continuous discharge certificate, the job opportunities for Sri Lankans will be expanded, and demand for the Sri Lankan merchant navy officers will also be increased.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga, Secretary to the Merchant Shipping Secretariat P. Jayampathi and the Director General Ajith Senevirathne also participated in this event.