Ports, Shipping and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka yesterday (2) said that ships scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka have not faced any disruptions so far, even as tensions in the Middle East continue to affect regional maritime movements.

Speaking to the media, he said several vessels had requested operational facilities at both the Ports of Colombo and Hambantota, and that the authorities are prepared to provide the necessary services.

However, he noted that shipping traffic across parts of the Middle East and Gulf region has experienced disruptions, which are expected to affect export operations to those destinations. In view of the situation, he requested exporters not to bring cargo, including tea consignments intended for Middle Eastern markets, to local ports until further notice.

He said that discussions are ongoing with all the relevant stakeholders to assess developments and coordinate responses based on changing maritime conditions.

The developments come amid escalating tensions and security concerns in parts of the Middle East, where recent conflict-related incidents have affected commercial shipping routes and increased risks to vessels operating in the region.