Early clearance of Port backlog

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Colombo port would clear the backlog as a result of the nine day- go slow campaign of the port employees by Tuesday as nineteen ships waiting out harbour to enter the port, would be attended to.

Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake said employees were working round the clock to catch up with the delayed cargo operation.

Ten ships are berthed in the port and nineteen berthed outer harbour as of yesterday for cargo handling in the port. The go slow campaign by the port employees brought the productivity of the port from an impressive 25 TEUs per crainer per hour to 3-5 TEUs per crainer per hour during the nine days of trade union strike. Executive Director, the Port Authority, Rishad Musheen told the Sunday Observer a "special operation" was under way and "productivity is at impressive 25 moves per hour.

"I am confident that we can clear the backlog in a couple of days," he added. Vincent Tan, the chairman of Sri Lanka Association of Vessel Operators told the Sunday Observer that none of the shipping lines were not permanently leaving the Colombo port though "dozens" had bypassed the port during the go-slow campaign.

Port trade unions on Friday called off go the slow campaign after Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the Port Authority management agreed to a compromise formula which included 1,500 rupees allowance for all non executive staff and 750 for all executive staff.