Gazette on terminal handling issued and enforced from today

A gazette extraordinary on terminal handling and other charges by shipping agents as well as freight forwarders, was issued and enforced from today (January 6), the Finance Ministry stated.

The Extraordinary Gazette on Terminal Handling and Other Charges by Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers, Container Operators and Consolidators of Cargo was published by His Excellency the President, who is also the Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping.

The move crystalizes one of the several proposals made by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Budget 2014 to create greater transparency in the levy of terminal handling and other charges. It will promote productivity growth and competitiveness of imports and exports. Regulation will be enforced by the Director of Merchant Shipping from Monday, 6th January 2014, a statement read.