Port activities back to normal

The strike commenced by the private prime mover vehicle drivers on Saturday due to a malfunctioning of the computer system of the SL Customs has been called off following discussions.

On behalf of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama – the Chairman of SLPA, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Managing Director of SLPA, and Mrs. Sudharma Karunarathne, Director General of the Sri Lanka Customs and a number of senior officers including the Police were present at the discussions.

During the discussions, SLPA and the Transport Services Association have reached a solution that includes ten important areas of concern and has been issued with the consent of the Chairman of SLPA.

The decisions made at the meeting were

1) No inspection will be done by the Navy at the entrance of the port of the Local export cargo that is being transported by the Private Prime movers.

2) For transportation of local import cargo all Prime mover vehicles will be allowed to use the main entrance and the new entrance.

3) To enable productive service adequate officers will be placed at the entrance of the dispatching terminal and at the port entrance.

4) The license inspection station at the new entrance to be situated 400m from its current place.

5) Inside the port premises drivers of privately owned vehicles will be allowed to breach street regulations three times and would have only have to pay a minor penalty.  The fourth time will result in prohibiting from entering the port.

6) When the computer system of the Ports authority and the Customs authority is inactivated the relevant procedures to be in place to implement the manual system within 15 minutes.

7) To conduct an awareness programme for Prime mover drivers on the rules and regulations of the Port and the dispatching terminal.

8) To provide lavatory facilities at the entrance of the port for the Private Prime mover drivers.

9) Damaged Prime mover vehicles that are parked in side the Port premises cannot be prosecuted for breach of road rules and regulations.

10) To get information in emergencies and to inform the difficulties and problems faced by the Private Prime movers setting up the following authorities to be contacted.