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Multiple factors combine to clog cargo in Colombo’s port
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Container truck drivers spend days at the port and their ordeal is not over. Pix by Akila Jayawardene
By Kasun Warakapitiya
The delays led to several issues including cargo ships skipping Colombo port due to congestion, importers being forced to pay demurrage charges, extra custom fees due to delays, and a high demand for transport vehicles.
Chaminda Bandara
Container truck drivers spend days at the port and their ordeal is not over.
Wharf clerks said that stricter inspection of cargo is among the multitude of reasons for the delays. There are also internal disputes and political agendas in the mix.
Officers said that only having two scanners as well as technical issues also contributed to delays.
They claimed they even complained that even though custom officers were directed to function 24×7 they normally operate till 3a.m. and turn up the next day by 8a.m.
They also said that they pay customs a 24-hour overtime fee due to delays.
K. Sinnasami
Customs House Agents (CHA) and Traders Association president Tuan Ghouse Arfin said that congestion within the port remained for five to six months, and due to that, recently 25 to 30 ships which were due to dock at Colombo sailed without stopping.
He said that clearing of cargo from the port as well as customs is delayed for days. According to him stricter inspections carried out by customs, shortage of customs officers as well as incapability to clear all containers cause delays.
Mr Arfin said wharf clerks had a hard time clearing consignments to prices quoted to clients as there are extra payments to be made due to the delay. “The cargo reaches Sri Lanka from India within eight hours but sadly, for it to be cleared from customs and reach the market, it takes nearly eight days,’’ he said
Meanwhile, a wharf clerk who declined to be named, said that capacity of the port as well as customs inspection points need to be increased.
However, due to customs delays the clearing agents have to pay customs Rs 15,000 or Rs 20,000 a day as demurrage charges depending on the length of the container.
The container truck drivers at Orugodawatta are fed up. Drivers can’t leave the vehicles as batteries and cargo can be stolen. They also have nowhere to buy a meal and there are no sanitation facilities.
Ponnamperuma Arachachilage Gamini, 58, said he stayed for days until he was allowed to take a container to Orugodawatta for inspection.
“Nobody knows the pain we endure, we are in the queue under the scorching sun, our vehicles heat up, we cannot even leave the vehicle to eat, there is no washroom in sight, we are not even paid for staying in the queue,’’ he said.
He said that even though customs said it is working 24 hours, inspections take time and the queue moves slowly.
Mr Gamini said the queue only started to move from 10a.m. onwards. He angrily remarked that his phone worth Rs 30,000 had been stolen while he slept at night.
Ponnamperuma Arachachilage Gamini
Container truck driver, K. Sinnasami, 66, who was waiting at Orugodawatta from Thursday evening said that he was unable to have breakfast and lunch on Friday.
A father of a three month old baby, Chaminda Bandara, 31, said he too, spent two days at port to get the vehicle cleared. Then he remains in the queue until it gets cleared by customs.
“I am the breadwinner, there are a lot of expenses because of the new baby, and because I have no other job I am enduring all these hardships,’’ he said.
He is unable to return empty handed to Kandy to see his wife and child, he said. But with only two hires a week due to delays, he cannot even manage his daily expenses.
The Secretary General of the Association Container Transporters, Nimal Amarasena said that as most of the containers line up, the demand for containers had increased. Wharf clerks and clients promised higher payments, and unofficially, container transport charges have risen, although the association had not done so.
He said that container drivers are paid Rs 5,000 for their expenses for remaining in queue, and they had asked authorities to provide special security for vehicles parked on roadsides near cargo terminals.
The customs spokesman said that he would respond later.
Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku told the Sunday Times that the congestion has been resolved and 1,800 vehicles per day are being released.
But when questioned about delays in customs clearance, he said that the capacity of customs is limited and the clearance process takes time as there are certain quality tests needed for some items. Mr Kodituwakku also noted the shortage of customs officers and the need to do physical inspections for contraband.
The government is having meetings with stakeholders on providing some idle lands belonging to the Ports Authority and the state to park the containers that await customs inspections.
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