Congestion and vessel delays continue at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port as operations recover from a temporary shutdown triggered by a recent cyclone, according to shipping industry sources.
Terminal productivity remains below normal levels as yards and berths work through a backlog of vessels and containers that built up during the weather-related closure. Several ships are reported to be waiting at anchorage, while schedule disruptions are rippling across regional feeder and mainline services.
Port operators have resumed operations but are prioritising safety checks, equipment repositioning and yard reorganisation, slowing the return to full capacity. Adverse sea conditions in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone also contributed to extended delays for vessels calling at the port.
Shipping lines have advised customers to expect longer dwell times and possible rollovers as recovery efforts continue. Colombo, a key transhipment hub for South Asia, handles a large share of cargo moving to and from the Indian subcontinent, amplifying the impact of disruptions on regional supply chains.
Industry officials said normalisation could take several days, depending on weather conditions and the pace at which the backlog is cleared.