Vehicle importers of used cars expressed concern last week over the shift from Colombo to Hambantota for future imports as this would mean going back in time.
Importers that met with the Business Times argue that only if the necessary logistics are in place at the Hambantota port with the ability to transport these vehicles with minimum risk to Colombo it would be a viable shift.
Vehicle Importers’ Association President Yoga Perera states that a number of incentives are being offered for those shifting to Hambantota where modern innovation will be used to ensure online processing of documents for clearance of vehicles from the port.
It was pointed out that with these new innovative developments offered and as the authorities have indicated that the most modern and updated IT systems will be used for clearing of vehicles at Hambantota port it will cause for a smooth flow and quick clearance.
In this respect, Mr. Perera said there is a need to adopt these new innovations and developments.
However, he observed that initially it would not be easy adding that all car carriers will be used for the transportation of the imported vehicles.
Vehicle importer Bandula Weerasinghe observed that this would ideally mean going back in time to the 1960s and 1970s when vehicles were imported and sent to the Trincomalee port.
Since the Colombo port at the time did not handle car imports these goods were handled at the Trincomalee port and would be driven down to Colombo and this similar pattern would be observed once vehicles are handled only at the Hambantota port in the future, he said.
He pointed out the need for a ferry, train or car carrier services from Hambantota port to Colombo adding that however, for those importing only about two vehicles in a ship, it they would be compelled to incur a huge cost for its transportation unless the process is streamlined.
Some of the small and medium enterprises complained that while importing vehicles at least two or three parts would go missing and this situation would be aggravated when transporting them from Hambantota, Jayantha Ranawaka of J.D.R. Enterprise told the Business Times.
The industry points out that they would have to bear the risk of any accidents for vehicles as they may not be fully insured during transportation as the traffic on roads today is higher than when they used to bring them down from Trincomalee. |
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