Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake inspected a 20-acre site in Kerawalapitiya today, earmarked for the development of a Customs Inspection Center capable of processing 200 containers simultaneously. The project is expected to be completed within three years, Minister Rathnayake said.
The visit followed discussions aimed at addressing the recent delays in clearance at Sri Lanka Customs.
Officials from the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Ports Authority, and Customs Department accompanied the minister during the inspection.
Speaking to media, Minister Rathnayake said that the land, currently owned by the Urban Development Authority (UDA), must be transferred to Customs to commence the project. He added that necessary environmental, business, and feasibility studies have already been completed.
Sri Lanka Customs Chairman Sirimevan Ranasinghe meanwhile noted that container checks would remain stringent despite efforts to reduce congestion. Customs Media Spokesman Seevali Arukgoda said that the center will not only have the capacity to inspect 200 containers but also accommodate 1,000 containers post-inspection. “This site is accessible via the expressway within 10 to 15 minutes, avoiding traffic congestion,” Arukgoda noted.
Responding to questions from journalists, Minister Rathnayake revealed that the project had secured a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) but faced delays in implementation.
“In the year 2021, 15 feasibility reports were prepared for this project. If it had been executed then, the current congestion issues could have been avoided. To address these challenges, we must first resolve long-standing problems,” he said. “Those who brought the country to this state now accuse us of not initiating new projects,” he added.
Minister Rathnayake also observed lapses in compliance with the President’s directives to address the recent Customs delays. “Although instructions were given to operate 24 hours, work at certain terminals stops around 3:20 a.m.,” he said, adding that the government had met several stakeholder requests but received limited cooperation.
“We will observe the situation until January 31. If there is no improvement, we will inform the public about the real issues,” the minister warned. (Newswire)