Hambantota Port grants extra 5 demurrage-free days for vehicle clearance in December

Colombo, Dec. 9 (Daily Mirror) - The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has announced a special concession for vehicle importers, offering an additional five free days for clearing imported vehicles in December 2025. 

Vehicles cleared between December 5and 15 will now enjoy a total of 15 free days comprising the standard 10 calendar days under the published tariff plus the extra five days under this concession. HIPG stressed that no extensions will be granted beyond this period.

The move follows a key meeting between the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) and HIPG senior officials on December 1, 2025 at The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. VIASL representatives, including President Madushan Mannapperuma, Vice President Arosha Rodrigo and Secretary Usman Ali Liyakath Ali, raised several operational challenges faced by importers at Hambantota Port, including delays in vehicle shifting, mud and dust accumulation, cement dust contamination, misplacement of vehicle items, and the need for an extended demurrage-free period.

HIPG acknowledged that delays were linked to issues with the outsourced service provider and confirmed a new tender would be issued to resolve the matter within December 2025. Additionally, the port plans to add 12 hectares of newly paved yard space by January 2026 to improve vehicle storage conditions.

On the issue of cement dust contamination, HIPG revealed that requests had already been made to the neighboring cement factory, but little action had been taken. Following VIASL’s insistence, the matter will be escalated to relevant government authorities. Regarding misplacement of vehicle items, HIPG noted evidence pointed to organized theft at the exit point rather than within their administrative area. VIASL has proposed introducing a digital tally sheet system to strengthen monitoring and accountability.

To support importers during the current clearance cycle, HIPG agreed to extend the demurrage-free period to 15 days for December. Further discussions are planned regarding concessions for vehicles delayed due to Customs-related issues, including cross-border units and those pending re-export.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both HIPG and VIASL committing to continued cooperation for the betterment of the vehicle import industry.