Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, has announced that substantial progress has been made in clearing the backlog of Maldives-bound cargo containers stranded at the Port of Colombo. The Minister noted that efforts to transport these goods to the Maldives are now proceeding at an accelerated pace.
Through the collaborative efforts of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), State Trading Organization (STO), and Maldives State Shipping (MSS), a significant portion of the 4,241 stranded containers has been cleared, with only 1,741 containers currently remaining in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, an additional 2,500 containers are scheduled to arrive in the Maldives within the next few days.
During the first quarter of this year, imports saw a 19 percent increase, driven by economic growth, a rise in tourist arrivals, and the seasonal demand associated with the month of Ramadan. To ensure the continuous availability of essential food items, the government, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is establishing procurement arrangements across seven key markets, including China, India, and Thailand.
The Minister also highlighted an increase in cargo imported via air freight and reassured the public that there are no disruptions in the supply of fuel and frozen goods.
