Sri Lanka Customs gets new chief

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Seevali Arukgoda becomes 45th Director General of Customs

Seevali Arukgoda

Sri Lanka Customs yesterday announced the appointment of Seevali Arukgoda as its new Director General.

Arukgoda becomes the 45th Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, one of the oldest State sector departments in the country, founded in 1806. Prior to the appointment, he served as Additional Director General.

Arukgoda joined the agency in 1989 as an Assistant Superintendent and is the first officer in its history to rise through every rank to the top position. Over his 36 years of service, he has held multiple senior roles, including spokesperson, and worked closely with the World Customs Organisation, serving two terms as an accredited expert on global customs and border management initiatives.

He holds a law degree from Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom and a Master’s in Customs Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Customs is one of the country’s largest revenue agencies, collecting Rs. 1.4 trillion ($ 4.7 billion) as of 21 August 2025, according to the ‘Revenue Clock’ on its website. The appointment comes as the Government prepares long overdue reforms across revenue authorities, including Customs and the Inland Revenue Department, to improve transparency and efficiency.

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