With a four-day expedited container clearance programme to clear up the backlog of import containers at the Colombo Port underway, Sri Lanka Customs stresses that there will be no impact on local food prices as a result of this delay.

“There is no possibility of prices increasing; food items and other essentials are given priority,” Customs Media Spokesperson and Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda told The Sunday Morning.

He reiterated that general cargo was held up for examination, while items such as rice, other food items, and essential goods were cleared on the same day.

As of yesterday morning (1), around 850 imported containers remained inside the harbour, pending examination at the three yards. Additionally, another 300 containers remained within examination yards, totalling nearly 1,200 containers awaiting clearance.

The Customs, with full cooperation of joint trade unions, launched a four-day expedited container clearance process on Thursday (30 January), aiming to clear the backlog of containers at examination yards by today (2).

Accordingly, all consignees, clearing agents, and transporters have been requested to extend their fullest cooperation by attending to their tasks on time, enabling backlog clearance within the given period.

Given the manner in which the initiative is progressing, Arukgoda stated that a 100% clearance was expected by the end of this programme.

According to Arukgoda, the number of containers awaiting clearance before the commencement of the programme had been about 2,500, with the number stacking up daily. 

Essential Food Commodities Importers’ and Traders’ Association President G. Illamanathan confirmed that no increases in prices of food and essential goods were anticipated, as no delays had been experienced by importers’ associations.