🚢 Sri Lanka Shipping Lobby Pushes to Restate Separate Terminal Handling Charges

• Core Issue: Shipping intermediaries are lobbying to unpick a decade-old reform and introduce separate Terminal Handling Charges (THC) on top of agreed all-inclusive freight rates. • Historical Context: Under Gazette No. 2334/26 (originally established in 2013 and reinforced in 2017), container costs must be quoted as one all-inclusive freight charge paid by the contracting party to prevent hidden local surcharges. • Impact on Prices: Before the reform, local THC on imports surged from US$ 55 in 1995 to US$ 155 per ton, with traders facing nearly 50 fragmented surcharges. Separate fees risk passing higher import costs onto everyday goods like food, medicine, and clothing. • Industry & Legal Stance: Key exporter bodies—including JAAF (apparel & textiles), the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council, and rubber exporters—urge the government to uphold Gazette No. 2334/26 and a previous Supreme Court ruling that blocked ministerial tariff overrides.