Customs Trade Union Alliance Blames Director General for Colombo Port Clearance Congestion

The Customs Trade Union Alliance has accused the Director General of Customs of inefficient administrative decisions, which they claim have caused severe congestion in the clearance of container vehicles at the Colombo Port. In a letter dated January 20, 2025, the Alliance highlighted that the Director General's removal of simple yet effective customs procedures and the introduction of stricter, more complex rules have disrupted smooth operations, inconveniencing both the public and legitimate traders.

The Alliance emphasized that these inefficiencies have persisted for over eight months without any meaningful solutions, resulting in long queues of container vehicles at the port premises. They expressed concern about recent public criticisms of the Customs Department's performance, noting that these allegations stem from a lack of understanding of the underlying facts.

In the letter, the Alliance criticized the Director General's recent decision to shift container inspection modes to DS "EXEMPTED," bypassing inspections of "RED" and "AMBER" containers meant for GLI, GLII, and RCT yards. They warned that such decisions compromise national security and undermine the government's tax policies.

As a response, the Customs Trade Union Alliance has decided to withdraw its members from duty at inspection yards starting January 21, 2025. The decision was formalized during a Special General Meeting held on January 20, 2025. The Alliance clarified that this trade union action is not intended to inconvenience the government but holds the Customs Administration, led by the Director General, accountable for the ongoing issues.

The Alliance urged the Customs Department's leadership to take immediate responsibility for resolving the situation and restoring efficient clearance procedures to ease congestion and ensure the security of the nation.