Container truck congestion has resurfaced at the Colombo Port, raising serious concerns from the Container Transport Owners’ Association.
The Container Transport Owners’ Association (CTOA) has attributed the worsening situation to the failure of relevant authorities to implement previously agreed-upon recommendations by a Cabinet Sub-Committee.
Speaking at a press conference held today (25), CTOA chairman Sanath Manjula said that although a fully equipped portion of land belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority was recently allocated to Sri Lanka Customs with the aim of reducing congestion, no vehicles have been permitted to access the designated area thus far.
He said that this lapse has led to growing inconvenience for container truck drivers and operators, who are now forced to wait for extended periods to complete routine port procedures.
He warned that the continued delays could cause significant disruptions in the logistics chain, adding that shipping lines may begin diverting cargo vessels to other regional ports to avoid bottlenecks, a move that would affect both exports and imports.
Furthermore, perishable goods and other essential cargo held in containers face the risk of spoilage or devaluation due to extended clearance times, he said.
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