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by Channa Kasturisinghe

Container transporting companies have raised fears that they will run short of prime mover drivers as it has become difficult for them to obtain police clearance certificates every year to enter the Colombo Port.

Container movement at the New Container Terminal (NCT Gate) Colombo Port.

The Association of Container Transporters (ACT) representatives pointed out at a recent meeting at Command Headquarters, Western Naval Command, Port of Colombo that to ease this problem the validity period of police clearance certificates of drivers should be extended to at least two years.

The meeting was arranged to discuss matters pertaining to container transactions in the Port of Colombo.

Sunil Fernando of ACT explained that with the implementation of new security measures reducing the validity of police clearance certificate to be of one year, the drivers and cleaners of prime movers face a difficult situation.

"For them obtaining a police clearance certificate every year will not be an easy task in view of the way they are treated at the Police station and this dilemma would definitely lead them to lose their jobs.

There is a present trend of prime mover drivers leaving the country in search of employment abroad," Fernando said.

However, the Western Naval Command is of the opinion that the Police clearance certificate of a person is a very basic security clearance and the validity of Police report should be considered as one year.

Shipping sources told the Daily News that containers are unduly delayed at No.6 gate whilst entering the Harbour for checking by breaking seals and opening the doors.

M.S.M. Niyas of the Association of Clearing and Forwarding Agents explained that since the Customs long room harbour side entrance was denied to wharf clerks, they experience a lot of difficulties and delays, as now after completion of formalities at Customs they have to come through No.3 gate to enter the Harbour.

Port users who are not falling in as regular port users category such as consignees who require passes not on regular basis to clear the cargo/personal effects, representatives/employees of shipping lines, shipping agents are exempted from producing police clearance certificates to obtain entry passes.

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