Air cargo clogged at BIA; UL asks customers to clear up

Air cargo is piling up at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in view of the partial shutdown of economic and business activities in the country as part of mitigation measures against the spread of novel coronavirus.

SriLankan Cargo management has informed all clearing agents, wharf officers and customer airlines that it is facing difficulties to store inbound cargo due to space constraints at the import cargo terminal.

“The situation has become more complicated due to non-clearing of goods under the prevailing situation in the country,” SriLankan Cargo said.

However, it said Cargo management, Customs and other regulatory authorities had made arrangements to operate their offices to ease the clearing process as usual.

Following a Government directive to support businesses, storage charge was waived off till 30 March for consignments which arrived during Government-declared holidays.  From today (31 March) onwards storage charge will be applied for all consignments.

SriLankan Cargo has requested agents, wharf officers and airlines to make urgent arrangements to clear import consignments immediately. Curfew passes could be obtained by submitting Custom House pass (CH pass) along with the clearing documents to the nearest Police station.

Airlines have been advised to make arrangement to release the documents to consignees for clearing the goods without any delay.