Tuesday Feb 03, 2026
Tuesday Feb 03, 2026
Tuesday, 3 February 2026 02:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka Customs has recorded a strong start to the year, collecting over Rs. 232 billion in revenue in January, significantly exceeding its monthly target and reinforcing its role as one of the Treasury’s key revenue-generating institutions.
Official data show that Customs collected Rs. 232.55 billion during the month, surpassing the January revenue target of Rs. 160.2 billion by Rs. 72.35 billion, or 45%. The performance marks one of the strongest monthly revenue outcomes for the Department in recent years.
Notably, Customs had already collected Rs. 175.4 billion within the first 22 days of January, exceeding the monthly target by 9.5% even before the end of the month, indicating sustained momentum in import-related revenue inflows.
For 2025, Sri Lanka Customs has been assigned an annual revenue target of Rs. 2,207 billion, which is 13.5% lower than last year’s target, primarily due to expectations of a sharp decline in vehicle imports following changes in import policy and demand conditions. Despite the lower annual target, January’s performance suggests a stronger-than-anticipated start to the year.
In 2024, Customs recorded a historic revenue collection of Rs. 2,551 billion, exceeding a revised annual target of Rs. 2,241 billion. This represented a 64.2% increase compared to the previous year’s revenue of Rs. 1,553 billion, underscoring the significant recovery in trade activity and revenue administration.
Officials attribute the January surge to a combination of factors, including increased import volumes, favourable currency movements, and enhanced enforcement measures. Tighter monitoring to curb under-invoicing and misdeclaration of goods has played a key role in strengthening compliance and boosting State revenue.
The robust performance has positioned Sri Lanka Customs as a critical pillar of Government revenue in 2025, providing an important buffer as the State works to meet fiscal consolidation targets under the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-supported economic reform program.
Analysts note that sustaining this momentum will be vital amid anticipated fluctuations in import patterns, particularly in the vehicle sector, over the course of the year.
