ECONOMYNEXT – The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council has expressed concern over the death of a container driver waiting in line, and asked the authorities to revisit the Kerawalapitiya Customs Inspection Operation Center project which would provide better services to drivers.
According to media reports, the driver was found dead inside his vehicle from a suspected cardiac arrest while waiting in a queue at the Customs exit gate for days.
The SLSC says the incident underscores issues within the current inspection process, with the three private terminals designated for import inspections 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,” the SLSC said in a statement.
“We strongly urge the authorities to revisit the Kerawalapitiya Customs Inspection Operation Center 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 minimizing the impact on the import-export community.”
The full statement is reproduced below:
SLSC and Partner Associations Call for Urgent Action Following Tragic Death of Container Driver
The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council (SLSC), together with 17 member associations, the Container Transport Owners Association, and the Association of Clearing & Forwarding Agents (ACFA), has expressed deep concern over the tragic death of a container driver who was stranded in line at the Customs exit gate for three days.
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 Center 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 minimizing the impact on the import-export community.
The ongoing inadequacies of the existing private terminals continue to cause undue delays and hardships. These terminals prioritize 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 Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council and its partners 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. (Colombo/Sep3/2024)