The continuing congestion of over 13,000 containers at the Port of Colombo exposes a deeper malaise within Sri Lanka’s trade and logistics governance policy paralysis disguised as consultation. Despite countless meetings, committees, and stakeholder engagements over the years, the core problem remains untouched.
At the latest high-level discussion involving political leaders, Customs officials, SLPA management, and industry representatives, the outcome mirrored previous encounters: proposals without execution, concerns without timelines. For traders, transporters, and shipping agents, the message is increasingly clear: talk has replaced action.
Container congestion does not occur in isolation. It is the cumulative result of fragmented authority between Customs, OGAs, port operators, and political oversight mechanisms. Each entity exercises control over part of the process, yet no single authority bears responsibility for end-to-end clearance efficiency.
The suggestion to convert a new parking yard into a Customs examination bay underscores how reactive solutions dominate policy thinking. Instead of designing integrated clearance systems, authorities respond to crises with temporary spatial fixes moving containers from one bottleneck to another.
More damaging is the failure to modernise clearance protocols. Manual inspections, delayed delivery orders, outdated SMS notification systems, and limited operating hours continue to slow container movement. In an era where regional competitors deploy AI-based risk profiling and pre-arrival processing, Colombo remains burdened by procedural inertia.
The unresolved case of 323 containers stalled due to parliamentary-level objections highlights the blurred line between governance and operations. When political processes interfere with routine cargo clearance, uncertainty becomes systemic. For international shipping lines and transshipment clients, such unpredictability is reason enough to reconsider port choices.
Economically, the costs are substantial. Delays reduce port throughput, lower Customs revenue collection, and increase logistics expenses. Exporters already pressured by weak global demand—face shipment disruptions, while importers absorb higher costs that eventually filter into retail prices.
The CHA Traders Association’s call for outside-panel examinations at warehouses reflects a pragmatic, industry-tested solution. Yet its repeated rejection illustrates a reluctance to trust risk-based systems, even when safeguards exist.
Sri Lanka’s economic recovery strategy hinges on trade facilitation, export competitiveness, and logistics efficiency. A congested port directly contradicts these objectives. What is missing is not diagnosis, but decisive leadership empowered to override institutional resistance.
Until accountability replaces consultation, and execution replaces discussion, Colombo Port’s congestion will remain a recurring crisis quietly draining economic momentum when Sri Lanka needs efficiency the most.
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