Apr 28, 2020 (LBO) – The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has informed Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), SAGT and CICT on 27 April 2020 to extend the concessionary period for occupational charges in the Port of Colombo and all commercial ports in Sri Lanka, up to 07 May 2020.
Due to the prevailing Covid-19 outbreak in the island, institutions and their staffs related to operating import and export consignments have faced large difficulties. As a result, all terminals and warehouses in Sri Lanka Ports Authority, SAGT and CICT have reached their maximum capacities.
This has further created obstacles for the continuity of port operations, and space requirement for positioning of containers and port cargo at terminals and warehouses in the port.
Port operations and services should be continued to fulfill the distribution of essential consumer items, medicine, and medical supplies, and other necessary consumer products in the island.
Minister of Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando with special attention to the matter has further re-extended instructions issued earlier from 16th March 2020 to 13th April 2020 with regard to ‘occupational charges’.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, SAGT, and CICT have been instructed, to offer related concessions from 14th April 2020 to 07th May 2020 to all consignees.
Accordingly, for the said period, only basic occupational charges will be charged at terminals for all imported local TEUs.
Penal charges for the said period are fully waved off. The terminals of JCT and UCT of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, terminals of the SAGT and CICT will act accordingly.