Sri Lanka, June 11 -- The decision by Customs officers to subject all containers to stringent inspections following the controversial clearing of 323 containers has led to significant delays at the Colombo Port, Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP revealed that it now takes at least seven hours to clear a single container, compared to just two hours prior to the recent incident involving the 323 containers.

"Customs officers have resorted to rigid checks after receiving stern warnings from higher authorities in the wake of the container clearance controversy. We urge the Customs officials not to be intimidated by pressure from government higher-ups," MP Jayasekera told reporters at a media briefi...