President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to expedite the digitization of the Sri Lanka Customs Department, identifying it as a cornerstone of the government’s digital economy vision for 2030.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting held on 8th of July at the Presidential Secretariat with senior Customs officials.
During the meeting, the President emphasized that outdated laws are obstructing digital transformation and must be urgently amended.
He underscored that legal reform is essential to dismantle long-standing institutional obstacles within the department.
Discussions focused on the limitations of the current Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) and the need to accelerate the implementation of the National Single Window service.
Key concerns raised included the accurate recording of imports and exports, fair granting of tax exemptions, and effective identification of government revenue.
Officials reviewed existing digital initiatives and evaluated progress in modernizing customs processes.
The President reiterated that digitization is not merely about efficiency but is vital for broader economic and structural reforms.
He called for urgent and coordinated action to bring the Customs Department in line with international standards and to support Sri Lanka’s economic development goals.
