January 16, Colombo (LNW): A significant number of cargo ships—approximately 25 to 30—have had to abandon their docking at Sri Lanka’s ports due to ongoing delays in the container clearance process, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku disclosed.
The vessels, unable to offload their cargo promptly, turned back to their ports of origin. Kodithuwakku made this comment during a site visit to the Rank Container Terminals (RCT) in Orugodawatta yesterday (15).
The issue of clearance delays at Sri Lanka’s ports was addressed in a meeting convened by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (12). The meeting brought together key stakeholders from customs, the Ports Authority, and other relevant parties to discuss solutions to the problem.
Following the discussions, customs officers committed to working around the clock—operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week—to expedite the clearance process and minimise delays.
The Container Transport Owners’ Association has since reported a noticeable improvement in the clearance speed, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the authorities.
However, despite these positive developments, long queues of container trucks continue to form outside the Orugodawatta customs yard, suggesting that the situation has not been fully resolved.
The congestion is still causing significant disruption to the smooth flow of goods at the port.
Additionally, the Association of Clearing & Forwarding Agents (ACFA) has raised concerns, emphasising that for further improvements, it is crucial for all involved institutions to extend their operational hours to 24/7.
This would ensure that the clearance process remains efficient and uninterrupted, particularly during peak periods when port traffic is heavy.
The ongoing delays have raised alarm among the business community, particularly importers and exporters, who are grappling with the uncertainty caused by the backlog of containers.
The government’s efforts to address the issue are still in motion, with a promise to further streamline operations in the coming weeks, aiming to restore Sri Lanka’s ports to their full operational capacity.
