Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
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| Ports Deputy Minister Ruwan Kodithuwakku |
Ports Deputy Minister Ruwan Kodithuwakku yesterday said that the Government would assume full responsibility for the recent release of 323 containers from Sri Lanka Customs without inspection.
The decision, he explained, was necessitated by delays and congestion in the clearance process at the Port.
Addressing the matter, the Deputy Minister stated that releasing containers without inspection is not usual and is conducted under specific criteria to manage operational bottlenecks.
“These 323 containers were released through a committee of three members. It is impractical to inspect and release all 2,000 containers arriving at the Colombo port daily. Therefore a portion was cleared without inspection to ease congestion. However, this issue cannot be resolved without expanding to new yards,” Kodituwakku said.
The matter was brought to light in Parliament by SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna, who raised concerns about the release of these containers, including some reportedly flagged in the ‘red zone’.
He alleged that there is no clear information about the contents of the uninspected containers, raising serious questions over potential lapses in oversight.
Deputy Minister, while acknowledging the gravity of the situation, stating the need to address the root causes of Port congestion.
Separately, the Association of Container Transporters said the situation amplified because the Government started the scrutiny process without sufficient infrastructure and manpower.
They claimed that the situation could only be handled through a streamlined, digital system, to ensure proper monitoring and accountability in the Customs clearance process.
