Sri Lanka Customs is ready to accept online documentation and e-signatures and is committed to reducing time and costs related to cross border trade, despite constant pressure to squeeze more taxes from the border.

The Customs Department is ready to accept online customs declaration forms and related documents and will recognise e-signatures. Online document processing is currently being trialled and planning to officially launch end of September 2019.

By the end of 2019, it will be made mandatory for importers and exporters to submit customs declaration forms and supporting documents online.

This will help to minimise the time and costs at the border. Online submission of Customs declaration forms and supporting documents, which can number over 500 for a single consignment, is the first phase.

Sri Lanka Customs are hoping to facilitate all transactions digitally. Customs had already introduced electronic payments into its system and streamlined document checking processes bringing down the number of days to complete a border transaction from the time customs documents are handed in till goods are cleared from 4-5 days to under three days.