Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Thursday Nov 13, 2025
Thursday, 13 November 2025 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| Director General Seevali Arukgoda |
In a record-breaking achievement, Sri Lanka Customs has surpassed its 2025 annual revenue target of Rs. 2.115 trillion, collecting Rs. 2.117 trillion as of 11 November, marking the highest-ever revenue in the Department’s history and setting a new benchmark for State revenue generation.
Sri Lanka Customs announced that it had achieved a historic milestone by exceeding its Rs. 2.115 trillion revenue target ahead of schedule, becoming the top revenue-generating Government agency to date.
“This is a historic achievement. The exceptional performance can be attributed to the Department’s commitment to boosting revenue for the national coffers, streamlining tax collection processes, addressing integrity issues through the Internal Affairs Unit, as well as the strong support received from the Government,” Customs Director General Seevali Arukgoda told the Daily FT.
He noted that the resumption of vehicle imports played a pivotal role in this record-breaking performance, contributing Rs. 680 billion to total revenue, which is a sharp rise from Rs. 50 billion in 2024.
“Additionally, we notice that general cargo revenue registered a 13% increase compared to the previous year,” he added.
Arukgoda also highlighted that enhanced enforcement measures and compliance monitoring had significantly reduced revenue leakages, strengthening overall fiscal discipline.
While he acknowledged that revenue from vehicle imports may not remain as high in 2026, Arukgoda expressed confidence that Sri Lanka Customs will continue to deliver higher annual targets through improved systems and efficiency.
The Department’s performance reflects consistent growth over recent years, rising from Rs. 975 billion in 2023 to Rs. 1.503 trillion in 2024, underscoring Customs’ expanding role in strengthening national revenue and supporting the country’s economic recovery.
