Jan 26, Colombo: Sri Lanka will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Italy to allow the Italian authorities to recognize the certificates of competency issued for the Sri Lankan seafarers.

The cabinet has granted approval to the proposal for the MoU put forward by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Ports and Highways.

Under the MoU, the Italian Maritime Administration will facilitate the Sri Lankan seafarers to be employed on Italian Flag Vessels without holding an equivalent certificate of competency issued by the Maritime Administration of Italy, Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella told media in Colombo Thursday.

Currently, the seafarers holding the Certificate of Competency issued by Sri Lanka need to obtain an equivalent Certificate of Competency issued from the government of the foreign country to be employed in a vessel registered in the respective country.