Activities at the Colombo Port slowed down after 14 of its employees were tested positive for Covid-19 and several others were sent on quarantine.
Customs Director General Retd. Maj. Gen.Vijitha Ravipriya said that even though 7 of its employees were affected by the virus, they were continuing to maintain round-the-clock services to clear goods.
The Colombo Port is in crisis with a mountain of containers remaining uncleared.
In an interview with Sunday Times, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Retired General Daya Ratnayake stated that more than 20,000 containers are still held up at the Colombo Port as clearing of the goods has slowed down.
He said for a day they were handling 500 containers for exports while earlier they had handled 800 to 1000 a day.
He said essential food items were arriving in the country uninterrupted and steps were being taken to clear the goods without delay.
Vessels were not calling due to the congestion caused by the delays. As a result, some of the ships were bypassing Colombo and heading to ports in Singapore, India and Bangladesh.
