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Customs go slow irritates Pettah traders

by Anjana Gamage

Several containers carrying a large number of metric tonnes of B' onions, potatoes, fruits and dates for the festive season imported from India and Pakistan have perished due to the go slow of the workers of the Sri Lanka Customs, claimed the President of the Essential Food Exporters' Union and the Pettah Traders' Association, Sunil Muthumala.

As a protest against the go slow, 200 wholesale outlets were closed yesterday afternoon in Pettah. According to the President of the Pettah Traders' Association, it is difficult to clear the containers of goods until next Tuesday due to the long weekend vacation.

"Normally it takes only a day to make the clearance. But due to this go slow of the workers, now it takes a week to make the clearance. By that time all goods would perish," he said. However, the traders say they will have to charge Rs. 150 or more per one kilo of potatoes or B' onions from the buyers, from next Tuesday unless the higher authorities make any arrangements to settle the matter as soon as possible.

Union members of the Customs were not available for comment.

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