Move to minimize waste of time and fuel:

Railway for container transportation mooted

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The Government should explore the possibility of using the railway for container transportation.

It is necessary to introduce a procedure where the tariff for container transportation could be revised accordingly, said Chairman, Shipping, Ports and Aviation Committee of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka Sujeiva Samaraweera.

The rail transportation system needs to be re-scrutinized and revamped to enable cost effective transportation.

The development of this sector will have a multiple-effect as the adjoining lands to railway stations could be used as dry ports.

The users could form a cluster to develop their own transportation connecting the railway station to their destinations, he said.

The use of the railway will minimize waste of time and fuel.

The Government could identify lands to set up dry ports and could work as a public/private partnership for the benefit of the end users, he said.

This effort could generate employment as well as additional income for the transportation sector.

It is important to include the North and the East as transportation is a facility that is essential for the day-to-day activities, he said.

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) works closely with Government institutions and provides valuable suggestions to improve the facilities. It applauds the contribution made by Sri Lanka Customs to the national economy in its 200th year, he said.

"We congratulate Sri Lanka Customs on it completing 200 years.

It was established during the colonial era in 1809, Sri Lanka Customs has come a long way ever since and today the Customs Department contributes 50 percent of the national income," he said.