Ms. Anoma Ranasinghe, the Education Officer of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers - Sri Lanka Branch said that fifteen students from Sri Lanka have passed the highly competitive final examination of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) - U.K., held in April, 2008, and have thus qualified to be enrolled as a 'Members' of the 'ICS'.

The 'ICS' is a professional body internationally recognized as one which is "setting the highest standards of professional service to the shipping industry worldwide through education and example". ICS has been in existence since 1911 and having obtained the 'Royal Charter' in 1921 it has relentlessly pursued its mission successfully with a strongly growing overseas presence through a network of Branches in the main shipping centres around the globe. The Membership of the ICS ('MICS') is obtained after successful completion of a series of highly competitive examinations held annually worldwide and is equivalent to a first degree in England and also in Sri Lanka. Incidentally, the ICS qualification is the only professional qualification which addresses the entire spectrum of the international maritime industry with further scope for specialization in chosen areas.

As for the 'ICS' - Sri Lanka Branch (ICS-SL), this is a record performance in its twenty-year history. And the fact that there are about a hundred more waiting on the wings to complete the final examination, reflects the magnitude of enthusiasm prevailing among the members of the local shipping community to hone their professional skills. The ICS-SL has taken great pains over the years in its ardent endeavour to infuse professionalism into the local shipping industry with a view to raise the standards at par with the international maritime industry. Lectures are being conducted over weekends to assist the students to prepare for the ICS examinations that are held annually. Periodically, international seminars are being organized on topics of current interest with eminent resource personnel being brought from UK; USA; etc., in an effort to upgrade the knowledge of today's executive.