Sri Lanka Customs will officially launch its first paperless customs declaration system on October 1, 2026, as part of efforts to digitalise customs procedures and improve services for the trading community.
Under the new system, customs declarations and supporting documents will be submitted and processed electronically, reducing the use of physical documents and manual handling.
Sri Lanka Customs said the system is expected to speed up processing, improve transparency and document traceability, and reduce administrative delays. It is also expected to strengthen risk-based customs controls, revenue protection, regulatory compliance and trade facilitation.
Customs has separately notified importers and declarants that the paperless Customs Declaration process at the Long Room will become mandatory from October 1. CusDecs and supporting documents will have to be submitted using valid digital signatures, with manual submissions no longer accepted.
The initiative follows preparations to integrate digital signatures with the ASYCUDA system, allowing customs documentation to be submitted online in a secure and legally recognised manner. (Newswire)