The association of container transporters which was founded 24 years ago, was initiated with the sole objective of ameliorating the standards of the container transport trade in Sri Lanka. During the early/ mid eighties the container transport trade was still relatively new and although exports and imports had developed significantly during this era, the all important commercial transport element was slow to develop due to the inadequacy of vehicles and usage of improper vehicles, which were not geared to cater to this segment of the trade. In the year 1985 a few major transport organizations banded themselves together, with the blessings of the Shipping Corporation, Export Development board and the Central Freight bureau and formed the “Association of Container Transporters”. This association focused on the problems and the improvement of Container transport, in Sri Lanka.

Today the association has grown tremendously, with a membership of over 90 members comprising of almost all the major container transport companies in the country. Currently, with the influx of sophisticated and specialized container carrying vehicles which are readily available, some of the problems negatively affecting the industry have been resolved. The annual general meeting of the association was held on the 15th of August 2008 and the new team comprising of the office bearers and the executive committee, were duly elected and intend soliciting further support from the Ministry of Transport, The Sri Lanka Ports authority and other associated departments, to significantly improve the standards of commercial container transport in Sri Lanka.