Sri Lanka's government is preparing to introduce a new Digital Signature and Paperless Customs Declaration System starting October 1, aimed at streamlining trade procedures through digital processing.
Sri Lanka's customs operations are set to undergo a significant digital transformation with the introduction of a new Digital Signature and Paperless Customs Declaration System scheduled to commence on October 1. The initiative represents part of the government's broader effort to modernise customs procedures and enhance efficiency in trade-related documentation.
Businesses and importers received detailed briefings on the new system during an awareness programme held on August 18 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Officials from Sri Lanka Customs and LankaPay provided comprehensive information to participants about digital signatures, the process for obtaining them, and their application in submitting customs declarations electronically.
The project has been positioned as a critical component of the government's digitalisation agenda. Seevali Arukgoda, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and head of the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernization Bureau, addressed attendees regarding the administration's broader policy direction and the rationale behind implementing the paperless system. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce organised the awareness programme in coordination with the government's Paperless Document Processing at Customs initiative, reflecting the collaborative approach to implementation.
