An apex body representing Sri Lanka’s apparel exporters has urged the government to implement key reforms at the Colombo Port, warning that inefficiencies and delays are eroding the country’s regional competitiveness.

“While Sri Lanka struggles with inefficiency, our regional competitors are moving ahead. India’s new Vizhinjam Port and others in Singapore and Dubai now offer seamless digital coordination, faster vessel turnaround, and fully automated systems,” the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said in a statement issued on Friday.

The JAAF noted that as a result, some of the transshipment traffic that previously came through Colombo is now being diverted. Over the past few months, several shipping lines have reportedly begun bypassing Colombo — in some cases, just a day or two before arrival.

According to JAAF Chairman Yohan Lawrence, this has caused severe disruptions to apparel manufacturers. “Ships carrying containers of fabric, zippers, buttons, and trims are either unloaded at other ports or arrive days later. For manufacturers working on tight schedules, even a small delay can result in missed deadlines, late deliveries, or costly airfreight to meet customer commitments,” he said.

The association stressed that the root of the problem lies in operational inefficiencies at the port, including delays in moving containers between terminals, outdated manual systems, and slow coordination among port agencies.

JAAF called on the government to prioritize operational reforms by streamlining digital pre-clearance, improving cargo tracking, and ensuring seamless coordination between terminals.

There has been no immediate response from the government regarding the appeal.

The development comes just weeks after Sri Lankan exporters were hit by a new U.S. tariff on apparel exports. The U.S. imposed a 20% tariff—reduced from an earlier announced 44%—effective August 7, which brought Sri Lanka’s rate in line with major garment-exporting competitors such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, according to chief government negotiator Harshana Suriyapperuma.