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800 food containers stuck in port; importers seek long-term solution
Importers are demanding a long-term solution to prevent piling up of essential food containers at the Colombo Port.
The move came amidst a delay of clearing more than 1,300 containers containing essential food items, including sugar, due to the shortage of US dollars to clear the goods.
Customs Director General Major General (Retd) G.V. Ravirpiya told the Sunday Times yesterday that some 800 of these containers were carrying food items and of them about 400 were carrying essential food items.
Without completing the transactions by the importer, the goods could not be released, he said.
On Friday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa issued a directive to clear some of the containers. However, the directive will apply to only some 500 containers of sugar.
Importers during a meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday said a long-term solution was needed to ensure that sufficient US dollars were available for imports and failure to do so would lead to further food shortages and price increases.