Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-05-22

Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lanka and Australia on Recognition of Certificates issued to the Sailors

- For a Naval Officer with a Certificate of Competence to serve in a vessel registered under the flag of a foreign country, it is mandatory that he obtains a Certificate of Recognition from the country in which the relevant vessel has been registered, in addition to the Certificate of Competency. For the issuance of such certificates there should be a convention or Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the relevant states and Sri Lanka has already signed such agreements with 32 foreign countries.

By entering into such agreements, employment opportunities will be open to a large number of Sri Lankan Naval Officers with Certificate of Competency to serve in foreign vessels. The Government of Australia has expressed its willingness to enter into an agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka on the issuance of these certificates. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Minister of Ports and Shipping, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to the recognition of certificates of maritime proficiency, with the Government of Australia, was approved by the Cabinet.