Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake launched the Sri Lanka Customs Single Window System enabling the Custom Department to do away the system overlapping that will otherwise require submitting and processing the same information on numerous occasions to different entities.

The Single Window process is carried out using state of the art technology with relevant activities being coordinated through a network of computers.

Under the program all public and private sector institutions involved in the import export sector will be allowed to lodge information with a single body to fulfil all import or export related regulatory requirements. The system enables the economic operators and trading partners to submit all import, export and transit information required by regulatory agencies via a single electronic gateway.

Importers and exporters can use electronic funds transfer or online payments to pay Customs duties and levies associated with the clearance formalities of goods declared for import or export of cargo.

This will help in overcoming many obstacles in the import and export procedures. Most importantly it is time saving and eliminates frauds and malpractices.

Sri Lanka Customs is also implementing an online payment system linking all the major banks in Sri Lanka, according to the Ministry.