As Colombo Dockyard PLC is celebrating its 50th anniversary, it is with great pride and gratitude that I look upon and reflect on our odyssey. Over the last five decades, Colombo Dockyard has stood as a shining example of resilience, innovation, and excellence in maritime industry, not just in Sri Lanka, but on the global stage as well.
Starting with harbor support vessels, we now build complex cable layer vessels and hybrid bulkers. Our repair capabilities have expanded from small commercial vessels to larger and sophisticated vessels like VLGCs, dredgers, and offshore vessels. Additionally, our heavy engineering achievements range from small-scale local projects to large steel structures and pioneering underwater restaurants.
The past few years have been extremely challenging for the company. The impact from the Easter Sunday Terrorist attack, the unprecedented impact from the COVID-19 pandemic followed by the financial crisis in Sri Lanka, has been challenging and testing our limits. Even with these troubling encounters, Colombo Dockyard have demonstrated our resilience and commitment to excellence to adapt these conditions.
The collaboration with our parent company, Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd. Japan in 1993, now reaching 31 years , the work culture has been evolved as a quality driven service centre has influenced Colombo Dockyard’s achievements over the years.
Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the future. The lessons learned from recent hardships have only strengthened us. We are committed to leveraging our experiences to drive growth and innovation, ensuring that Colombo Dockyard remains at the forefront of the marine industry.
I am proud of Colombo Dockyard’s unwavering support for the local maritime and heavy engineering industries over the past five decades. Our investments in advanced technologies and skill development have solidified our status as the region’s premier shipyard, enhancing local industry through shared knowledge and innovation. Moreover, our dedication to social responsibility ensures we make positive contributions to the community, fostering sustainable growth and regional excellence.
As we celebrate this milestone, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our employees, partners, and clients who stood with the company from the beginning of this journey. The unwavering support from them and trust have been instrumental in our journey. Together, we will continue to steer Colombo Dockyard towards new horizons, maintaining our legacy of excellence and contributing to the economic development of Sri Lanka.
Here’s to the next fifty years of success and beyond!
Mr. Thimira S. Godakumbura
Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
Activities in parallel to anniversary celebrations.
To mark this significant milestone, a series of religious events were held to evoke blessings on the employees and pioneering teams. On the 29th of July, an Islamic religious event took place at the Muthuwella Jumma Islamic Church, followed by a Hindu religious ceremony at the Shree Wenkteshwara Vishnu Temple. The next day, on the 30th of July, a Catholic mass was held at St. Andrews Church, Mattakkuliya. On the night of the 31st of July, a special Pirith enchanting ceremony was conducted, followed by alms-giving to 16 Buddhist monks on 1st of August and a special blessings by a catholic priest.
