News
Customs sticks to rule and importers won’t re-export delayed salt cargo
While Sri Lanka Customs and importers of salt continue to lock horns over the fate of around 1,700 containers held at the Colombo Port for more than six months, the government is yet to offer a solution to either party.
Customs Media Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa admitted the dilemma and noted that much of the stock may have expired.
“They could be mixed and used as coconut fertiliser, but even that would need approval from the National Fertiliser Secretariat,” Mr Punchihewa said.
The dispute arose over claims that the salt was imported at a time of shortages, after the import window lapsed.
Customs said it was instructed to re-export the goods, but that the importers have refused to do so.
The Director General of Imports and Exports Control, Upulmalee Premathilaka, said discussions were held with the Finance Ministry about the salt stocks. However, the ministry has not informed the Imports and Exports Control Department of any policy decision in this regard.
“The deadline for salt imports was June 10, 2025, which was also the last loading date (at the point of origin),” said P. Subramaniam, secretary of the Essential Food Importers’ Association. “The Ministry of Health issued import permits for about 180,000 metric tonnes of salt, both crystal and powdered. However, these permits were given to importers on May 22, 2025.”
It normally takes three to four days for a ship to come from the Tuticorin Port, he said. Another port is in Gujarat, from where a ship usually takes 10 days to arrive.
The first shipment reached the Colombo Port around May 28, Mr Subramaniam said. All laboratory reports were submitted to Customs, while tests were also done by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). Sample test reports were sent by email. “That shipment was cleared successfully,” he said.
Customs then inspected all cargo arriving after June 10 and asked for documentation before they could release the containers. (The importers disagree that there are 1,700 containers stuck at the port, maintaining that the number is much lower).
Mr Punchihewa suggested removing the “re-export” clause from the gazette and reissuing it.
“The gazette states that salt imported after June 10 must be re-exported. That is the problem. We must act according to the Imports and Exports Controller’s instructions. And there has been no violation of those conditions,’’ he said.
While Sri Lanka Customs has the legal authority to auction goods that are not claimed within 21 days, the word “re-export” in the gazette prevents them from doing this. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has similar powers.
Another challenge is that, to auction the salt, Customs or SLPA will have to intervene to get clearance from both the SLCI and Health Ministry food inspectors that the salt is suitable for use. Neither has indicated a willingness to do so.
Also, if the goods are auctioned, demurrage and SLSI fees will still have to be paid. Even if the SLPA auctions the goods, when taxes and costs are taken into consideration, it will not earn a profit.
“If the re-export clause wasn’t in the gazette, we could have taken some action,” Mr Punchihewa said.
Mr Subramaniam admitted that the salt held up was loaded at ports past the June 10 deadline.
He maintained that some shipments could have been loaded before the deadline. However, some ships that had delivered salt to Colombo Port and were due to return to India to pick up more containers were delayed owing to blockages at Colombo Port, and the deadline was missed as a result.
Importers now request President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to intervene and release stocks without charges.
“We spoke to Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe,” he said, hinting that since the authorities felt there was now enough salt in the country (and no shortage), the held-up imports were no longer needed.
A 20-foot container holds about 25,000 kilograms of salt. For every day of delay, US$50 has to be paid per container to the shipping company and Rs. 15,000 a day to the SLPA. And it has now been more than six months.
“We are not blaming the government,” Mr Subramaniam stressed. “We accept that the shipments arrived after June 10. Re-exporting them now makes no sense. We do not have the money to keep paying these charges in stages. We cannot bear this loss.”
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