Ports Chief wants container backlog cleared, warns of fine from May 7
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Daya Ratnayake has urged importers to clear their containers at the port to facilitate operations.
He said that as many as 12,000 containers, including 1,500 that were brought on a shared basis, were still in the port and they need to be cleared to accommodate new containers coming in.
Lt Gen (Retired) Rat n ayake said the problem had been aggravated because to clear the shared containers all consignees should be present.
"The Port's four yards have reached their full capacity due to the delay in clearing them," he added.
The chairman said that due to the Covid-19 crisis, consignees were given some concession but if they failed to clear the cargo, they would be imposed a fine from May 7.
He said he would not allow businesses to use the ports facility as the warehouses of businesses.
Explaining the cur rent operation in the ports, he said about 600 to 1,800 containers were cleared daily by the Customs, while about 600 containers were brought to the port with export goods.
He said that about 5,000 vehicles still remain to be cleared at the Hambantota Port and about 500 at the Colombo Port.
Some 2,500 port employees from a work force of 10,000 report to work on a daily basis despite the lockdown.
He said the ability to keep the Port operational despite the pandemic had improved the image of the Port.
The Port's four yards have reached their full capacity due to the delay in clearing... businesses are using the ports facility as a warehouse.