More than 1,500 containers containing imported salt remain stuck in port warehouses.

Customs Media Spokesperson and Customs Director Chandana Punchihewa confirmed during an inquiry that these shipments arrived after the government-mandated deadline.

The government previously permitted private importers to bring in salt to address a local shortage.

A gazette notification issued last year stipulated that all such imports must arrive in the country before June 10.

However, the containers currently held at the port reached Sri Lanka after that cutoff date, leading to the current storage deadlock.