By: Staff Writer
January 12, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Port is grappling with significant congestion due to a sharp increase in container volumes, exposing infrastructure inadequacies and inefficiencies in Customs operations, according to Sri Lanka Customs Spokesman Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda.
Statistics from Sri Lanka Customs reveal that daily container traffic has surged from an average of 800–1,200 to over 1,500, occasionally exceeding 3,000. However, the existing facilities remain incapable of handling this growth, creating severe bottlenecks.
“The volume has increased, but infrastructure has not kept pace,” Arukgoda stated, highlighting that plans for a modern Customs examination yard in Kerawalapitiya—designed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2020 to meet demands until 2050—were halted after the land was repurposed by a previous administration. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has now committed to reviving the project.
To manage the crisis, Customs has reduced physical inspections from 80% of containers to 35%, allowing 65% to be cleared without intervention. Yet, non-compliance remains high, with 55–65% of inspected containers containing undeclared, excess, or prohibited items. Arukgoda stressed the need for robust checks to prevent public safety risks, maintain standards, and curb revenue losses.
Efforts to combat corruption have led to the suspension of four Customs officers for inadequate inspections, though these measures have also slowed operations. External factors, such as delays caused by importers exploiting exchange rate fluctuations and insufficient staffing at agencies like the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), have further exacerbated the situation.
“On a single day, out of 440 containers slated for examination, only 60 were for Customs. The rest required checks by other agencies,” Arukgoda explained. Delays are also worsened by restrictions on container transport during certain hours and extended testing periods by other authorities, leaving containers to occupy valuable yard space for months.
To alleviate congestion, Customs has temporarily rented private yards to store containers, with associated costs passed on to importers rather than the Government.
Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku attributed the congestion to increased imports and exports driven by economic growth. He announced plans to improve infrastructure, including constructing a 200-meter road linking the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) and East Container Terminal (ECT). This road, expected to be completed within a month, aims to streamline inter-terminal transfers, reducing berth delays for ships.
Additionally, a special committee comprising Customs, Ports, and Department of Health officials has been formed to address operational inefficiencies. Initiatives such as incentivizing workers and establishing temporary inspection points, like the facility at Bloemendhal, are expected to expedite container clearance.
Kodithuwakku expressed confidence that these measures would resolve congestion within two months.
Meanwhile, the Container Transport Owners’ Association (CTOA) reported that inefficiencies at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Customs have left 800–1,000 vehicles stranded at the port, with drivers waiting up to a week for container clearance. The Wharf Workers’ Association warned that these delays could drive up import costs by 20%, as late fees are ultimately passed on to consumers.
