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| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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SLPA Freight Station records steady growth Sri Lanka Ports Authority's Container Freight Station in Peliyagoda has shown a steady growth in its business. The No. of LCL (Less than container load) containers de-stuffed at the station had risen by 76% from 4,608 TEUS in 2000 to 8,121 TEUs in 2003. In 2001 and 2002 the No. of TEUs handles were 6,690 and 6,805 respectively. The SLPA purchased the Peliyagoda warehouse complex at a cost of Rs. 452 million from Urban Development Authority (UDA) in 1999 and modified the yard area and the warehouse to use it as an LCL Container Freight Station. It started operations in February 2000 with the main areas of de-stuffing, LCL containers, provide warehouse space and delivery to the respective consignees. All operational activities and delivery of cargo including billing and recovery of charges are done through a computer system, which had been installed specially to this warehouse complex. LCL and FCL (Full container load) consignments of personnel effects cleared have also increased at this station. LCL consignments growth increased from 322 in 2001 to 3,020 in 2003 while FCL containers handled increased from 140 in 2001 to 658 in 2003. The average daily deliveries at the station is around 200 and during the peak seasons from 200 to 300. On a decision made by the SLPA and the Sri Lanka Customs the unit of handling unaccompanied personnel effects was also transferred from QEQ to the Peliyagoda Container Freight Station with effect form September 2001 for convenience of easy clearance of personnel baggage. A separate Customs Unit had been set up for this purpose and all LCL personnel effects containers are transferred to Peliyagoda for clearance. Since these activities such as Customs inspection, payment of duties and SLPA billing are done under one roof this unit is becoming more popular among the Sri Lankans abroad. Commissioning of this warehouse at Peliyagoda has eased the traffic congestion inside the Port created by the vehicles entering the port to delivery of LCL cargo. For the convenience of customers CASA also made a request to transfer all LCL de-stuffing operations out of Port premises. It has helped to minimize the security threats to the Port by reducing No. of vehicles and people entering the Port premises. |
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