The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council (SLSC), together with 17 member associations, the Container Transport Owners Association, and the Association of Clearing & Forwarding Agents (ACFA), yesterday expressed deep concern over the tragic death of a container driver who was stranded in line at the Customs exit gate for three days. 

The associations in a joint statement asserted that this unfortunate incident underscores significant issues within the current inspection process. At present, the three private terminals designated for import inspections are severely lacking in capacity. Additionally, these facilities fail to meet the essential well-being and sanitary needs of wharf clerks, container drivers, and other personnel involved. Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, the critical Customs’ Kerawalapitiya initiative—which promised a state-of-the-art inspection facility with comprehensive amenities—has been shelved.

“We strongly urge the authorities to revisit the Kerawalapitiya Customs Inspection Operation Centre project. This facility was designed to ensure the health, safety, and efficiency of all parties engaged in the customs inspection process. Reviving this project is essential to preventing further tragedies and minimising the impact on the import-export community,” the associations said. The inadequacies of the existing private terminals continue to cause undue delays and hardships. These terminals prioritise their revenue collection while offering no essential services or facilities to drivers, container transporters, or wharf clerks. 

“The import-export community remains vulnerable to these inefficiencies, which could lead to severe consequences if not addressed promptly,” the associations said. The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council and its partners stressed they are committed to advocating for the well-being of all individuals involved in the logistics and customs sectors and will continue to push for necessary reforms to prevent future incidents.