Colombo port concessionary period extended

The concessionary period for penal charges at several ports in the country has been extended up to May 7, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) stated in a media release on Tuesday.
The Ports and Shipping Ministry has informed the SLPA, SAGT and CICT to extend the concessionary period for occupational charges in the Port of Colombo and all commercial ports in the country.
Accordingly, for the said period, only basic occupational charges will be charged at terminals for all imported local TEUs or containers, the release stated.
Penal charges for the said period are fully waived off, the release said adding that this will apply for the terminals of JCT and UCT of the SLPA, terminals of the SAGT and CICT.
Earlier the grace period for payment of penal charges was from March 16 to April 13.
Currently, all terminals and warehouses at SLPA, SAGT and CICT have reached their maximum capacities, the release said adding that “this has further created obstacles for the continuity of port operations, and space requirement for positioning of containers and port cargo at terminals and warehouses in the port”. (SD)