Sri Lanka Customs has made arrangement to provide services to the importers, exporters and other agencies under the prevailing situation of the country due to Covid -19 pandemic.
Both sea cargo and air cargo processes are being continued despite indefinite curfew in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts, SLCustoms Department announced.
However these arrangements are made subject to health and safety measures notified by the government, especially to minimize the human gathering thus preventing the spread of this deadly decease.
Therefore, the Director General of Customs requests all the persons visiting the Customs premises to strictly follow the health and safety measures notified by the government.
Clearance of Imported Essential Goods the arrangements have been made to facilitate the clearance of imported essential goods.
Food items, perishable goods, medicines, medical devices and related items and bulk cargo such as gas, petroleum, fertilizers, cement etc., and any raw material or commodity intended for the production of essential goods shall also be cleared during this period.
Clearance of rest of the imported commodities will be decided in due course after monitoring the pandemic situation of the country, SL Customs Department said.
The arrangements have also been made to facilitate the clearance of urgent exports. However, a limited number of exports will be facilitated per day to prevent unnecessary overcrowdings.
Therefore, the exporters are requested to make prior arrangements with the Customs staff at the Exports Facilitation Centre or Air Cargo Village before bringing in the goods to the respective centres.
The clearance of all unaccompanied passenger baggage (UPB) is suspended until further notice and arrangements have been made to facilitate all the other services such as submission of cargo manifests, renewal of TIN registrations and new TIN registrations related to the clearance of imported essential goods and urgent exports.
Therefore, all the related agencies are requested to make prior arrangements with the Customs staff at the relevant working points before visiting the same.
(LI)