Dear Exporter,
It has been observed that, due to this tense situation of COVID- 19 Outbreak, exporters face numerous issues in processing their committed / urgent shipments.
Considering the importance of keeping the export process active, the Export Development Board's Help Desk is now functioning to facilitate you to help resolving your urgent issues. If you face such urgent issues, please contact following officials of the EDB and submit your issues to the HelpDesk email.
Please be advised that due to the prevailing situation, the Department of Commerce regrets to inform that it will be compelled to reduce its operating hours as follows, from Monday, April 06, 2020:
Monday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Wednesday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Friday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Please read the below notice for details, before you visit the DOC for the above services.
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Sri Lanka Customs has made arrangements to provide services to the importers, exporters and other agencies under the prevailing situation of the country due to COVID 19 pandemic. The following arrangements are applicable for both sea cargo and air cargo processes.
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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to set up the above Re-financing Facility in order to implement the decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers on 20.03.2020 to introduce a wide range of fiscal and financial concessions for COVID-19 hit business activities including self-employment businesses and individuals.
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Due to the world wide COVID-19 crisis, it has become difficult to receive original health certificates and catch certificates (fish) in the border control posts in the EU. Because of the restrictions and cancelled flights, couriers like DHL and TNT have problems to send documents by airplane to Europe. Importers have contacted the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) with the question if it could be possible to accept copies of health certificates during controls at the border. The suggestion is that apart from the option that the TRACES system can be used by third countries to issue export certificates, the NVWA gives the Competent Authority in the third country the opportunity to send the certificate as a scanned Pdf-file directly by email to the NVWA. This will be in line with Letter SANTE.DDG2.G/BVG from the European Commission. The email to which the certificates have to be sent, is: [email protected]
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Due to the prevailing situation of COVID-l9 outbreak, this Department executes an implementation to control on Non-essential import goods in order to alleviate the pressure on exchange rate and the stress on financial markets.
Thereby, Sri Lanka Customs and Commercial Banks are obliged to suspend the facilitation of importation of Non-essential goods stipulated with the symbol of Temporary Suspension (TS) in Annex A under the payment term relating to Letter of Credit, Documents against Acceptance. Documents against Payment, Open Account and Advanced Payment, or a combination of these. until June 23.2020
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In line with the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers at the Cabinet meeting held on 20.03.2020 on the Direction issued by His Excellency the President to provide relief measures to assist businesses and individuals who are adversely affected by the prevailing Covid-19 outbreak, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka hereby issues this Circular to the licensed commercial banks, licensed specialised banks and leasing companies, hereinafter referred to as financial institutions.
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COVID 19, the novel coronavirus infection, which began in Hubei Province, China in December last year has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. All sections of society should engage with the public health authorities to take action to prevent and contain the spread of the virus.
It is crucial to remain vigilant as Sri Lanka has recently reported cases of COVID 19. Businesses and employers, in particular, have a major role to play to keep workplaces safe if we are to stop the spread of this disease as workplaces are frequented by a large number of people. This document outlines the key steps to be taken at workplaces to prevent the spread of the virus.
Employers should start doing these things now, to keep the workplaces safe to prevent the spread of the virus. This may help to reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of COVID-19. The following simple measures can be easily adopted in the workplace to reduce the spread of infections.
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Working arrangements have been made for the facilitation of essential import clearance and export / BOI Processes as well. Long room staff is working in between 10.00am to 2.00pm. RCT staff will be there from 10.00am to 5.00pm.CVT staff will facilitate on call. If you need any further assistance or information, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Sunil Jayarathne – ADG (Sri Lanka Customs)
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. The following arrangements are applicable for both sea cargo and air cargo processes. However, please note that 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.
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In order to facilitate exports, the Department of Commerce (DOC) will be open from 20th March 2020. However, because of the prevailing situation in the country due to the fast spreading corona virus, the Department will be operating with only a skeleton staff. Therefore, all exporters are kindly requested to take note of the following:
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Many steps are being taken by the government to mitigate the possible negative impact of COVID -19 to the society at large and it will be absolutely necessary to ensure that the economic functions of the country shall continue to be undertaken unabated. In this context, export oriented manufacturing enterprises be advised that operation of their enterprises shall be carried out , subject to the concerned management taking required measures to protect the employees by following all health and safety procedures as had been advised The relevant government institutions will continue to provide all services even with a skeleton staff. :
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