SLFFA Cargo Service Centre at BIA

Sri Lanka Freight Forwarding Association (SLFFA) opened the SLFFA Cargo Service Centre at the Cargo Village of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

The centre was opened by the Director General of Customs, Dr. Neville Goonawardane.

SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd is a public unquoted company operating under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders' Association (SLFFA) which has provided import air cargo warehousing facilities at BIA Katunayake for the past 17 years.

A spokesman for SLFFA said that this was made possible after SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd and Sri Lanka Customs signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July this year, enabling all importers and clearing agents to electronically submit all documentation required to clear air and sea import cargo, making this process simple and fast, by using the Asycuda World software.

"This module is used by many countries and uses a customised software module to assist importers and exporters. The staff at this Key-in Center will also provide data-entry support functions to those who require assistance on a 24/7 basis," he said.

Director-General of Customs, Dr. Neville Goonawardena said that he was delighted to grant this facility to SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd, having worked very closely with the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders' Association over the years and he was very confident that they will be able to perform this important role efficiently on behalf of the Customs.

This will also enable the Customs to employ its own staff, who currently perform this role, on more important functions when they fully automate all Customs processes by the end of this year.

SLFFA Cargo Services Ltd, Chairman, Diren Hallock said that the company was very pleased to accept the invitation by the Customs to facilitate the operation of the Key-in Centre, in the premises of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, which will provide easy access to all importers, exporters and clearing agents at the Airport and outside in the Free Trade Zones in Katunayake and Ekala.

SLFFA Chairman, Mohan Mohanadas stressed the importance of this significant step taken in the right direction by the Customs to simplify the process for the benefit of all importers and thanked the Director General of Customs for the trust placed in SLFFA by awarding this facility to be operated by a company, where all the shareholders are full-fledged SLFFA members and added that he was very happy to have SLFFA involved in this process.