Customs achieves 130% of 1H target, Rs. 512 b vehicle import taxes account for 37% of revenue

Saturday, 5 September 2026 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Vehicle imports generated Rs. 512.5 billion in tax revenue for Sri Lanka Customs in the first half of 2026, with 316,000 vehicles imported as of 30 June, 2026, Parliament’s Committee on Ways and Means was informed.

The Committee, chaired by Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake, reviewed the operations and revenue performance of Sri Lanka Customs at a recent meeting.

Officials, including Customs Director General, told the Committee that overall Customs revenue had reached 130% of its expected target for the first half of the year, with taxes from vehicle imports accounting for over 37%.

Customs revenue as of 30 June, 2026 stood at Rs. 1.6 trillion, while actual collections for the period amounted to Rs. 1.38 trillion. Officials added that Customs revenue had exceeded monthly targets in every month of the year to date, and that each month’s collections had also surpassed the corresponding figures recorded in 2025.

The Committee also examined the volume of imported containers and inspection procedures, the adoption of modern technology to improve the efficiency of Customs operations, challenges in revenue administration, and future plans for the department.