President Anura Kumara Disanayake, during a meeting held on Saturday (12) at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives from Sri Lanka Customs and port-related service providers, reached several important agreements aimed at resolving the ongoing delays in the clearance of imported containers. The President instructed officials to take immediate action to eliminate the delays within the next four days.

He also engaged in detailed discussions about the issues faced by state institutions, including Sri Lanka Customs, as well as the challenges encountered by port service providers. While emphasizing the necessity of implementing short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans for port sector development, the President underscored the urgent need for a joint effort by all parties to address the current crisis. As a result, both public and private sector stakeholders agreed to work together towards an immediate resolution.

To expedite the clearance process, Sri Lanka Customs officers agreed to operate continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, a 5-acre plot of land in the Bloemendhal area was allocated for storing containers pending investigation, with plans to release 2 acres by January 31 and the remaining portion by February 28. Addressing the issue of congestion caused by idle container vehicles at port terminals, the government agreed to provide land in the Peliyagoda area for parking these vehicles, thereby easing the traffic at the terminals.

Further, delays caused by regulatory agencies such as the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the Department of Food Commissioner, and the Plant Quarantine Division were highlighted during the discussion. It was revealed that staff shortages in these institutions were a significant factor contributing to the delays. In response, the President directed the relevant authorities to fill these vacancies promptly and to enhance welfare allowances for the officers of these institutions to ensure a more efficient clearance process.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, stated that if there are any financial requirements related to this process, they can be provided by the Ministry of Ports. Additionally, private associations requested the President to take disciplinary action against clerical staff who fail to report for duty on time during the container clearance process. The Minister further emphasized that it is the responsibility of the respective private companies to ensure that their employees report to work promptly.

Importers agreed that food-related products must be accompanied by mandatory certificates issued by foreign laboratories following proper testing, and in the event of any violations, appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with government regulations. A decision was made to reduce the period during which containers can be stored within the port premises without charge to two days. Furthermore, it is anticipated that this period will be further reduced to one day starting from June.
Minister Ratnayake also noted that this expedited clearance process would continue until June 30 and stressed the need for all stakeholders, including the port, customs, and private service providers, to work together as one unified team.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Professor Anil Jayanta Fernando; Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Senior Additional Secretaries to the President, Russell Aponsu and Kapila Perera; officials from Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and Sri Lanka Standards Institution; officers from the Department of Food Commissioner; representatives from the Association of Sri Lankan Shipping Agents, the Association of Container Operators, and the Association of Container Transporters; as well as officers involved in import and export clearance operations.

[PMD]

SJB trade unionist:

… alleges current pricing formula helps fleece consumers

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Alleging that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had sought to put off the scheduled power tariff revision, on the basis of false data and assessment provided to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), prominent SJB trade union activist Ananda Palitha yesterday (12) said that the PUC could grant as much as 35% reduction in rates. Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament last week that electricity tariffs would not be reduced soon but the government had decided not to increase electricity tariffs further in the future.

Convener of the Samagi trade unions and consumers collective Ananda Palitha said so in response to The Island query after having made representations to the PUC, along with other interested parties, during public consultations held in respect of the impending tariff revision expected to be announced this coming Friday (17).

Taking into consideration substantial profits earned by the state enterprise, the PUC could order the CEB to implement tariff revision, Ananda Palitha said, pointing out that the CEB, in early December last year, informed the PUC of its inability to grant relief during the January-June 2025 period.

In terms of a decision taken by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, the PUC was to implement four tariff revisions annually, the trade union leader said. Responding to another query, the former UNPer alleged that regardless who wielded political power the CEB always tried to minimise tariff reductions. Thanks to PUC’s interventions, electricity consumers received a 21.9% decrease in rates in March 2024, though the CEB proposed only a 4% decrease, Ananda Palitha said.

In July 2024, the PUC had declared a 22.5% decrease though the CEB proposed only 3% reduction, Ananda Palitha said, adding that the next revision was to be announced in October 2024, soon after the presidential election.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake had assured the public of a substantial drop in electricity tariffs as he knew of the impending revision but the CEB implemented its usual strategy to deprive the consumers of much needed relief, Ananda Palitha said. Had President Disanayake appointed members to the PUC at the time he made appointments to the CEB, the PUC could have intervened, Ananda Palitha said. The PUC consists of Prof. K.P. Lalith Chandralal (Chairperson), Piyal Hennanayake and Dr. M. Chathuri Samanmali Fernando.

Ananda Palitha said that tariff revisions hadn’t been implemented after the July 2024 change and the CEB was making a determined bid to derail the whole process, with the backing of the new government. President Disanayake owed the public an explanation why he continued to delay the promised tariff reduction, knowing the significant decrease in costly thermal generation.

Declaring that he, along with several other concerned persons, recently made representations to the PUC regarding the responsibility on its part to provide relief to the hapless consumers, Ananda Palitha alleged the NPP government, too, seemed to be wholly disinterested in electricity consumers’ woes.

Having won both the presidential and parliamentary elections, the NPP was now playing a different tune, Ananda Palitha said, finding fault with Power Minister Kumara Jayakody for trying to mislead Parliament. The political activist said that over and over again, the CEB had been badly exposed for furnishing false information and making wrong assessments to the PUC, though no remedial measures were taken.

Ananda Palitha mentioned three specific instances when the PUC proved the CEB data and assessments utterly wrong. In August 2022, the CEB proposed a 110% increase in tariffs though the PUC permitted a 75% hike, whereas in February 2023 the CEB proposed 85% increase but the PUC brought it down to 66%.

In July 2023 when the CEB declared that the maximum downward revision that could be granted was 3%, the PUC reduced the rates by 14.2 percent, Ananda Palitha said.

The CEB’s response couldn’t be obtained as the position of spokesperson remained vacant.

Ananda Palitha said that the government should also look into the CPC earning unconscionable profits at the expense of the public by supplying diesel required for thermal generation at much higher prices. The issue at hand is that successive governments have allowed the CPC to manipulate the entire process thereby causing heavy burden on the electricity consumers, Ananda Palitha said, adding that both the CEB and CPC should be held responsible for this unfortunate situation.

The SJBer questioned the rationale in the CEB procuring its supplies from the CPC at the same prices as ordinary consumers. Electricity tariffs couldn’t be substantially reduced as long as the government allowed the high-handed manipulation involving the top management of the CPC and CEB to continue.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP, yesterday (12) confirmed that they would initiate talks with the UNP soon to reach consensus on political arrangement.

The former UNP Minister said so when The Island asked him whether there was any basis for intense speculation regarding resumption of talks. The breakaway UNP faction made an abortive bid to iron out differences in the run-up to the presidential election last September.

The SJB parliamentary group consists of 40 lawmakers. The UNP failed to secure a single seat at the last general election while the former UNP Minister Ravi Karunanayake represents the NDF (New Democratic Front) in Parliament.

The NDF, backed by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, secured five seats, including two National List slots, though none of them represent the UNP.

Political sources said that the SJB and UNP were keen to finalise an arrangement before the Local Government elections early this year.