By unusuma.lk on (LK time)
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met today (12) with officials from Sri Lanka Customs and key port service providers to address ongoing delays in the clearance of imported containers. The President has called for urgent action to resolve the issue within four days, as stated by the President’s Media Division (PMD).
During the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, President Dissanayake listened attentively to the challenges faced by both state institutions, like Sri Lanka Customs, and the port service providers. He emphasized the importance of a coordinated effort between public and private sectors to tackle the current crisis. As a result, all parties agreed to collaborate towards an immediate resolution.
A key decision was to have Sri Lanka Customs operate 24/7 in order to expedite the clearance process. Additionally, a 5-acre land plot in the Bloemendhal area will be used for storing containers awaiting investigation. Two acres of this land are expected to be freed up by January 31, with the remainder available by February 28.
To address congestion at port terminals caused by idle container vehicles, the government has agreed to allocate land in Peliyagoda for parking, easing traffic bottlenecks.
Delays caused by regulatory agencies, such as the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the Department of Food Commissioner, and the Plant Quarantine Division, were also discussed. These delays were largely attributed to staffing shortages. The President has directed that these vacancies be filled quickly, and welfare allowances for officers in these agencies will be increased to improve efficiency.
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, assured that any financial requirements for the improvements could be met by the Ministry of Ports. The President was also urged to take disciplinary action against clerical staff who do not report for duty on time during the clearance process. Minister Ratnayake reminded private sector companies of their responsibility to ensure their employees show up on time.
In line with government regulations, importers have agreed that food-related products will now require mandatory certification from foreign laboratories to ensure proper testing. Legal action will be taken for any violations.
As part of the new measures, the free storage period for containers within port premises will be reduced to two days, with plans to further shorten this to one day by June.
Minister Ratnayake further confirmed that the expedited clearance process would continue until June 30, urging all stakeholders—port authorities, customs, and private service providers—to work together as a unified team.
The meeting was attended by several high-level officials, including the Minister of Labour, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, and the Secretary to the President, along with representatives from Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and various associations involved in import and export clearance operations.