Colombo Port a hub of congestion
The Colombo Port is currently facing congestion as some importers complain it takes about a month to clear their cargo.
With about 5000 containers at all terminals at the Colombo Port there are about 400 loaded onto lorries queued up for clearing, and there is a growing congestion at the port due to the increased seasonal traffic, Container Transport Owners Association President Sanath Manjula told the Sunday Times Business.
With only three verification points available at the port this congestion continues to build up and authorities are facing pressure to take responsibility should they process containers through the Green Channel facility, he said. This facility allows cargo processing to be fast-tracked through electronic scanning at the port based on the type of cargo and history of the importer.
Mr. Manjula pointed out that ever since concerns were raised regarding the 300 containers that had been processed through this facility the authorities have continued to subject containers to manual checks and not simply electronic scanning, slowing down the process of clearing containers at the Colombo Port that has seen an increased traffic since November and is likely to continue until May. He explained that the verification points receive increased number of containers and this takes time to clear. Moreover, he said there is reduced workforce from the Customs in order to clear the cargo in addition the weekends result in minimal work getting underway.
This is also due to the fact that the other state officials who ensure compliance with standards on cargo arriving at Colombo lead to increased checks and these persons are not available during the weekends, he said.
It is also learnt that in the wake of concerns that authorities are likely to be blamed for any possible slip–ups no one wants to take the risk of being pulled up and as a result more and more manual checks are being exercised.
This has led to an increase in the number of physical interaction with officials and some claim there is an increase in the amount of corruption at the port.
In the meantime, vessels are found to be re-routing to other ports in the region in a bid to avoid the congestion at the port. This leads to cargo meant for Colombo having to be shipped out from ports like Vizhinjam Port in India, a deep water draft port.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!