SLFFA to conduct freight forwarder survey on foreign ownership Budget proposal

The Sri Lanka Logistics SLFFA Chairman Jagath Pathirane stated: “We believe that this Budget proposal has triggered uncertainty and discomfort in the freight forwarding industry of this country and in turn for the exporters and importers of this country whom we have serviced through thick and thin for the past 35 years. Hence after debating the matter at the executive committee we decided that the true perspective and views of the industry must be obtained and hence decided on conducting a proper survey.”

SLFFA member companies are a key contributor to the exporters and importers in the country by providing valuable services in logistics and transportation facilitation, annually handling approximately 125,000,000 kg of export air cargo and 34,000,000 kg of import air cargo and over 400,000 TEUs of export and import containers amounting to billions of rupees of turnover paid by SLFFA members to the various airlines and shipping lines operating through Sri Lanka.  

The freight forwarding industry, which started in 1977, has steadily grown to this level due to the hard work and efforts of members of SLFFA who functioned in a self regulatory manner.

Hence according to Pathirane: “SLFFA member companies are in reality an influential stakeholder likely to be impacted by the above proposal and believe that any such liberalisation cannot be achieved using a broad-brush approach.”  

Pathirane added that the survey, which is carefully thought-out, asks a range of five simple questions ranging from whether you agree or disagree or agree subject to safeguards with the Budget proposal. It further analyses factors and reasons for each such position. Pathirane urged all registered freight forwarders to participate in this online survey at the very earliest.  

For further information on participating in this survey any interested freight forwarder can contact the SLFFA Secretariat on 4943031 or email [email protected].