With the introduction of containers to the Sri Lankan shipping trade in the late 70’s the Port of Colombo faced an acute shortage of space for storing empty containers and the then Minister of Trade and Shipping requested private entrepreneurs to set up container storage facilities in the surrounding urban environs. As a result Sri Lankan entrepreneurs made considerable investments and set up Inland Container Terminals and Container Freight Stations.
Consequently the Association of Container Terminal and Depot Operators (ACTDO) was formed in 1983 by a group of Depot Operators.
The Association was incorporated as a Public Limited Liability (Guarantee) Company in June 1999 and the name was changed to Association of Inland Container Depot Operators (ACDO).
ACDO has grown since its inception and now counts a Membership of fifteen of the most accredited Inland Container Depots in the country. ACDO is affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and is a Member of the Joint Council of Port Users. ACDO is actively involved in the meeting of various Government Authorities to address many issues faced by the Membership and also works closely with other trade Associations such as Ceylon Association of Ships’ Agents (CASA), Association of Container Transporters (ACT), Sri Lanka Shippers' Council, Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders' Association (SLFFA) to bring a positive change to the industry.