FTZMA urges urgent action over vessel omissions at Colombo Port

• Frequent vessel omissions disrupting export operations, causing delays and raw material shortages
• Garment, rubber, and electronics industries among those worst affected

The Free Trade Zone Manufacturers' Association (FTZMA) has written to Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka expressing serious concern over the frequent omission of vessels at the Port of Colombo, warning of mounting disruptions to the export sector.

In the letter, the FTZMA said exporters are facing shortages of raw materials, production delays, and missed export deadlines due to the omission of Colombo from major shipping routes in recent months. 

The association noted that key industries such as garments, rubber, and electronics, which depend on “just-in-time” logistics, have been severely affected.

FTZMA said the disruptions have undermined Sri Lanka’s reliability as a regional shipping hub and discouraged international buyers from sourcing through the country. 

It urged the Minister to engage urgently with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and shipping lines to improve yard efficiency, expedite inter-terminal transfers, enhance road connectivity, and accelerate the commissioning of new terminals such as the East Container Terminal (ECT) and West Container Terminal (WCT).

The association also called for regular consultations with major shipping lines and clear communication to the trade community on measures to mitigate the ongoing disruptions.

The letter in full is as follows:

We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the increasing instances of vessel omissions at the Port of Colombo, which have recently had a significant impact on the operations of our exporters and the broader shipping and logistics community in the country.

As a result, our exporters face a lack of vital raw materials, leading to production bottlenecks and the inability to meet crucial deadlines for export orders. Industries such as garments, rubber, and electronics, which rely on tight delivery schedules and “just-in-time” logistics, have been particularly hard hit by these disruptions.

Over the past few months, we have observed several mainline operators omitting Colombo from their scheduled rotations, resulting in delays, transshipment issues, and additional costs for exporters and importers alike. 

These disruptions not only affect the reliability of Sri Lanka’s hub status but also discourage international buyers from sourcing through Sri Lanka.

We understand that global shipping schedules are subject to operational and congestion-related challenges. 

However, the frequency of these omissions indicates the need for an urgent engagement between your Ministry, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), and shipping lines to ensure Colombo’s competitiveness and reliability are maintained thereby.

We therefore respectfully urge your intervention to: take measures to reduce yard congestion by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Inter-terminal transfers(ITT) to expedite container clearance; improve road connectivity between terminals and main access of the port; bring new terminals (ECT & WCT) online, which are seen as essential for a long-term resolution; initiate regular discussions with major shipping lines to minimise omissions; and communicate a clear plan to the trade community on steps being taken to mitigate these disruptions.

We once again like to stress the urgency for operational upgrades and the implementation of a secure and more efficient ITT system to resolve these issues and mitigate the ongoing risks to the export sector.

The FTZMA letter to the Ports and Civil Aviation Minister was signed by Chairman Dhammika Fernando and Secretary M.H.Z.M. Marzook.