CICT rewards its champions at South Asia’s first quay craneperators’ competition

Six years after he began operating a Mega Gantry Quay Crane at the South Terminal of the Port of Colombo, Chathuranga Pushpakumara was adjudged the champion quay crane operator at Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT), winning the first competition of its kind in South Asia.

Mr Pushpakumara, 29,from Attanagalla, Gampaha,was among 30 exceptionally-skilled quay crane operatorsrecognised by CICTwith39 awards and cash prizes totalling Rs 2.45 million at the Company’s inaugural Quay Crane Championship Awards held recently.

The Championship AwardsforQuay Crane operatorswas launched to commemorate the 150th anniversary ofCICT’s parent company China Merchants Group (CMG) and is one of 150 competitions that will take place around the globe this year.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, CICT CEO Mr Jack Huang said: “Productivity and safety are the two core competitive advantages that CICT has over the other terminals in the region. Adherence to these aspects has made us one of the best terminals in Asia. On the other hand, our quay crane operators play a key role in the company’s productivity and safety aspects and therefore are pivotal to our success. We are delighted to be able to recognise and rewardthese skills in our employees through this latest championship awards which are aligned with CICT’s culture of appreciating best-performing employees.”

The CICT competition comprisedof two rounds. While all 82 quay crane operators participated in the first round and were judged based on basic skills required to operate mega quay gantry cranes, 30 operators that qualified for the second round were judged based onadvancedskills.Time, accuracy, efficiency, and safety while operating were the key criteria in both rounds.

Six quay crane operators who scored the highest in the second round of the competition were declared ‘QC Champion Stars’ andwere felicitated with certificates, plaques, and cash prizes at the CICT Quay Crane Championship Awards ceremony. The QC Champion Stars included the grand prize Gold award winner of Rs 600,000, the two Silver award winners– Mr Akila Ushan and Mr Charith Sonal who were presented Rs 400,000 each, and the three Bronze award winners – Mr Asanka Lakruwan, Mr Dhanushka Ariyasena and Mr Dilan Jayanayaka who were presented Rs 200,000 each.The Champion Stars areall experienced quay crane operators, the Company said.

Additionally, three operators with less than three years of crane operating experience werepresented ‘QC Shining Star’ awards.Mr Yojitha Bimal placed first in this category received a cash prize of Rs 200,000, while Mr Lahiru Jayawardana and Mr Chanaka Udayanga placed second and third were presented Rs 150,000 and Rs 100,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, the top 30 performers who qualified for the second round of the competition were also recognised with medals and certificates at the ceremony.

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