• Need to develop land, surrounding infrastructure cited as reasons
• Minimum of 2 years required for commencement
• Proposed land likely to need refilling

Sri Lanka Customs has moved to temper expectations of a quick turnaround in the operationalisation of the proposed Customs examination yard in Kerawalapitiya, pointing to the need to develop the land and surrounding infrastructure.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Sri Lanka Customs Director and Media Spokesperson Chandana Punchihewa stated that there were serious doubts as to whether the proposed examination yard in Kerawalapitiya could be operationalised as quickly as reported. 

He opined that the commencement of operations at the Kerawalapitiya examination yard would, at a minimum, take a further two years, primarily due to the need for the development of surrounding infrastructure.

Punchihewa added: “When considering the Kerawalapitiya Customs examination yard, it is important to note that the Kerawalapitiya entrance to the expressway consists of a single lane. Under such circumstances, if containers were to be released during evening hours, the existence of only one lane would inevitably create congestion for other vehicles.”

He further stated that no blame could be attributed to those who had planned the expressway, as they could not have anticipated that a container examination yard would subsequently be established in Kerawalapitiya.

Punchihewa asserted that due to concerns regarding the standard and quality of the filling already undertaken, the proposed land may need to be refilled.

“The land has already been partially filled; however, based on the information available to us, we have serious concerns regarding the standard and quality of the filling carried out. We suspect that the peat layer has not been removed and that filling has been done directly over the peat. 

“A single loaded container weighs approximately 25 tonnes. If five to six containers are stacked one on top of the other, the total load would amount to nearly 150 tonnes. 

“Accordingly, the ground must be of an adequate standard to safely bear such weight. Filling soil over peat would not provide the necessary strength or durability to support this load,” he stated.

Accordingly, he noted that once the requisite soil tests are conducted, there would remain a possibility that the land may have to be refilled to meet the necessary standards.