The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council (SLSC) highlighted the significant challenges toward the country’s supply chain, emphasising the need for urgent Government intervention, due to the ongoing fuel shortages, a statement released by the Council, recently said.
The current situation is to significantly disrupt manufacturing operations, logistics movements, and the overall efficiency of Sri Lanka’s supply chain, according to the statement, noting that the Council called on for urgent Government intervention to address and introduce measures to minimise the fuel crisis impacting manufacturing plants, worker transportation, and logistics operations connected to the export and import sectors.
The country’s manufacturing sector relies consistently on its daily supply of fuel, to sustain production and meet export commitments. The limited availability of fuel is creating operational uncertainties that could directly impact the country’s ability to honour international trade obligations, the statement reported.
Despite production challenges, manufacturers are facing significant difficulties in arranging transportation for their workforce. Ensuring that employees can travel to and from factories has become increasingly challenging under current circumstances, further disrupting the continuity of operations, said the Council cited in the statement.
A key factor to be considered is the movement of logistics vehicles transporting cargo between factories, warehouses, container yards, and ports. Fuel shortages that are affecting trucks and other cargo transport vehicles are causing delays in the movement of goods, potentially disrupting shipment schedules and affecting Sri Lanka’s reliability as a trading partner in the global market.
Furthermore, the statement suggested that to maintain an efficient functioning of the export supply chain, it is vital to sustain Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings and preserve the country’s reputation as a dependable trading partner.
SLSC is set up to work closely with the Government and relevant authorities to provide solutions that will safeguard the continuity of the nation’s export sector during this challenging period, the Council said in the statement.