The Cabinet has approved the appointment of a committee to investigate and submit recommendations on improving the efficiency of container clearance operations at the Colombo Port.

The Colombo Port currently operates four container terminals—two privately owned and two managed by the gove ment. Each terminal handles the inspection and release of 5,000 to 10,000 containers daily, including re-shipments. Customs officers identify containers for inspection at exit gates and conduct physical scans as part of the clearance process.

Recent issues, such as increased container inspections and a rise in the number of ships arriving at the port, have placed additional pressure on operations. To address these challenges, the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation presented a Cabinet Paper proposing recommendations to streamline the container clearance process and establish a mechanism to reduce delays.

The newly appointed committee will be chaired by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and will focus on enhancing efficiency at the port while ensuring a smooth release of containers.