|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 5 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Steady growth in business at SLPA's Freight Station Sri Lanka Ports Authority's (SLPA) Container Freight Station in Peliyagoda has shown steady growth. 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 handled were 6,690 and 6,805. The SLPA purchased the Peliyagoda warehouse complex at a cost of Rs. 452 million from the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in 1999 and modified in order to use it as a LCL Container Freight Station. It was commissioned in February 2000 with main operations being 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 for this warehouse complex. LCL and FCL (Full container load) consignments of personnel effects cleared have also increased at this station. LCL consignments growth has been increased from 322 in 2001 to 3,020 in 2003 while FCL containers handled had increased from 140 in 2001 and 658 in 2003. The average daily deliveries at the station is around 200 and during the peak seasons from 200 to 300. Handling unaccompanied personnel effects was also transferred from QEQ to the Peliyagoda Container Freight Station from September 2001 for 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 Sri Lankans abroad. Commissioning this warehouse at Peliyagoda has eased the traffic congestion inside the Port created by the vehicles entering the port to delivery of LCL cargo. The land area is around seven acres. The length of the warehouse is 260 metres and its breadth is 75 metres thus having a 19,500 square metres area to stack LCL cargo. The Container Freight Station has a fleet of mechanical equipment four top lift machines (40 tons) to handled containers, 21 forklift machines (2.5 and 3.5 tons) for movement of cargo in de-stuffing and delivery operations and five prime movers with 40' trailers to transport LCL containers from Port premises. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
