Cabinet clears move to amend duty-free rules at Colombo Port City

Thursday, 19 March 2026 04:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Monday approved amendments to existing regulations enabling passengers arriving from abroad to make purchases at the duty-free shopping complex at Colombo Port City on two occasions, within four days of their arrival in the country.

The decision was to this effect was taken at a previous Cabinet meeting held on 22 December 2025.

“Under the revised framework, travellers will be permitted to shop twice within the stipulated four-day period without any change to the previously approved annual duty-free entitlement of $ 2,000,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing.

The amended regulations were published through Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2475/28 dated 13 February 2026, in line with the provisions of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act.

Cabinet approval was granted for the proposal submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister to present the amended regulations to Parliament for approval.