Customs announces new arrangements in face of COVID-19 pandemic

Sri Lanka Customs has made arrangements to provide services to importers, exporters and other agencies under the prevailing situation of the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The arrangements are applicable for both sea cargo and air cargo processes and will be implemented subject to health and safety measures notified by the Government, especially to minimise human gathering, thus preventing the spread of this deadly decease.

Therefore, the Director General of Customs requests all persons visiting the Customs premises to strictly follow the health and safety measures notified by the Government.

The new arrangements are as follows:

Clearance of imported essential goods: Arrangements have been made to facilitate the clearance of imported essential goods such as food items, perishable goods, medicines, medical devices and related items. Further, bulk cargo such as gas, petroleum, fertilisers, cement, etc., and any raw material or commodity intended for the production of essential goods shall also be cleared during this period. Clearance of rest of the imported commodities will be decided in due course after monitoring the pandemic situation of the country.

Clearance of urgent exports: Arrangements have been made to facilitate the clearance of urgent exports. However, a limited number of exports will be facilitated per day to prevent unnecessary overcrowding. Therefore, the exporters are requested to make prior arrangements with the Customs staff at the Exports Facilitation Centre or Air Cargo Village before bringing in the goods to the respective centres.

Clearance of unaccompanied passenger baggage: The clearance of all Unaccompanied Passenger Baggage (UPB) is suspended until further notice.

Other services: Arrangements have been made to facilitate all the other services such as submission of cargo manifests, renewal of TIN registrations and new TIN registrations related to the clearance of imported essential goods and urgent exports. Therefore, all the related agencies are requested to make prior arrangements with the Customs staff at the relevant working points before visiting the same.