“Vehicle parking yards in the Port have become congested due to the large influx of imports in spite of the SLPA releasing many underutilized areas for vehicle parking” added a statement issued by the SLPA.

Port Authority also says that in addition to the above problems, vehicle importers are failing to clear their vehicles expeditiously from the Port thus causing inconvenience for the efficient functioning of the port.

“Due to the non availability of berthing facilities at the Colombo Port, vessels experience delays of more than ten days and as a result freight rates have been increased by the lines which in turn add to the cost of the selling price of a vehicle in the local market” further added the official statement.