Pioneer in Maritime Industry Appointed as the head of CFHC

Capt. Nihal Keppetipola has been appointed as the Chairman of the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation this week. Prior to this appointment, he has served as the Harbour Master, Director Operations and Managing Director in Sri Lanka Ports Authority from 1990 - 2015.


During the 1970s and 1980s, he has sailed and captained several types of seagoing ships such as general cargo, bulk, container, oil and gas tankers.

When contacted he says that he has held back a recent offer by a major international conglomerate involved in international port operations to take up as CEO of an international greenfield container terminal as his avail and service in Sri Lanka is necessary at this moment need.

The Ceylon Fishery Harbors Corporation (CHFC) was established in 1972 and is primarily responsible for delivering quality fishery-harbour related services and providing the fishing community with modern infrastructure and facilities. Since inception, the corporation has developed year-by-year and recently adopted an existing development plan, which is in line with the Sri Lankan government’s overall development plan.

The CHFC’s development plan outlines a range of proposed projects: amongst the suggested action points are those relating to both managements of the Cooperation and its business development strategy. It is expected the successful completion of this plan will help the Sri Lankan fishing industry to compete effectively with other prominent fishing-oriented countries in the region.