Customs goes paperless from 1 Oct.

Thursday, 24 September 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Customs will launch its first paperless customs declaration system on 1 October, 2026, allowing customs declarations and supporting documents to be submitted and processed electronically.

The system will be launched at the Sri Lanka Customs Auditorium in Colombo. Customs described it as an important step towards digitalising customs procedures and improving services to the trading community.

The new system will reduce reliance on physical documents, manual handling and the movement of paper files, Customs said.

According to Customs, the initiative is expected to deliver faster processing, greater transparency, improved document traceability and fewer administrative delays. It will also support more effective risk-based customs controls, under which inspections focus on higher-risk consignments rather than all shipments. Customs said the system would further support revenue protection, regulatory compliance and trade facilitation.

Customs said the system would also contribute to a more environmentally sustainable working environment and support the wider move towards digital government services.

The launch is part of efforts to build a more efficient, transparent, secure and technology-driven Customs administration that responds to the needs of modern international trade, the revenue agency said.