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COLOMBO PORT, in busier times.

Booming trade in India has hit shipments from Sri Lanka, according to a Lanka Business Online report. India's growing import-export trade has led several major container operators to launch direct mainline services from the Indian ports, thus skipping transhipment through Colombo. Shipping lines — Maersk, UASC, K-Line and Norasia — have shifted some of their services to the Nhava Sheva and Chennai ports, causing shortage of boxes in Colombo.

The extent of shortage is estimated at 600 per week. The worst hit, according to Sri Lanka's Shippers Council, are the exporters of garments, tea and coir. The garment exporters complain that they are being asked to opt for costly air freighting to meet the stiff delivery schedules. Also, the inefficiency of the Colombo port, poor infrastructure and the reduced export volume, have prompted the shipping lines to divert their services, it is felt.

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