• Discussion reveals 89 containers detained by customs stored in the Port’s terminals and warehouses for years 
• Notes financial losses, administrative issues due to shortage of space in warehouses and terminals

Minister of Ports and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva noted that the outdated Customs Ordinance should be amended to carry out an efficient clearance process according to the needs of the time, as the law does not allow the Ports Authority to recover the money earned by Customs as warehousing fees.

During a discussion held at the Ministry of Ports and Aviation on Friday (3) it was revealed that about 89 containers imported into Sri Lanka, and detained by the customs have been stored in the Port’s terminals and warehouses for many years and hence it has not been possible to collect any port fees for those containers.

Due to this, the Ports Authority has had to face a huge financial loss and a huge administrative problem due to shortage of space in warehouses and terminals, the officials of the Ports Authority pointed out.

Among these items are 12 containers of areca nuts detained in 2015, 39 containers of basmati rice detained in 2019, 15 containers of tiles detained in 2020, five containers of auto spare parts detained in 2013, four containers of textiles and stationery detained in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and four containers of alcohol and ethanol.

It was pointed out by the officials of the Ports Authority that it should charge a minimum of Rs. 2.4 billion as ground charges from these containers.

In addition, it was revealed that around 40 cars and lorries, including two Benz and Range Rover cars, which have been detained since 2015, are still in the terminals of the Port Authority.

Further, the officials of the Customs Department who participated in the discussion pointed out that there are such delays in dealing with the Customs Ordinance Act

De Silva instructed the officials to remove the 89 containers including perishable goods within a week.

A group of officials including, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, participated in this discussion.