Container goods inspection to be shifted to Kerawalapitiya

The Government has decided to relocate the container goods inspection activities currently done in Colombo to Kerawalapitiya to ease congestion as well as improve efficiency and capacity.

An area of 19 acres and 9.26 perches belonging to the Land Development Corporation near the Kerawalapitiya Interchange has been identified as the most suitable for the relocation.

The selection was after a feasibility study done under the Asian Development Bank exploring alternative sites in Bloemendal, Peliyagoda and Kerawalapitiya.

Container goods inspections are currently being carried out by Sri Lanka Customs at three private sector yards in Orugodawatte and Grandpass. 

The Government said yesterday Custom officers on duty as well as clients have had to face difficulties due to the limited space and facilities available in the existing three yards. Container transport to these yards also causes heavy traffic congestion in the Colombo area.

Considering these issues, the Cabinet of Ministers, at its meeting on Monday, approved the proposal presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to allocate the relevant land for this purpose and take steps to set up the proposed modern container goods inspection centre.