Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake launching the Single Window Program while Treasury Secretary Dr.R.H.S.Samaratunga (left) and Sri Lanka Customs Director General Chulananda Perera (centre) look on – Pic by Lasantha Kumara

By Charumini de Silva

The Ministry of Finance has set a revenue collection target of Rs. 886 billion for the Sri Lanka Customs for 2016.

Out of the set target, Rs.125 billion is expected to be generated via import tax, Rs.280 billion from vehicle import duties, Rs.95billion from port and airport development levy (PAL), Rs.85 billion from excise duties, Rs.75 billion from value added tax (VAT), Rs.65 billion from special commodity levy (SCL) and Rs.54 billion via import cess levy.

The Sri Lanka Customs said the set target of Rs.886 billion consists of Rs.869 billion in cash collections while the balance Rs.17 billion will bethrough cross entries between Government institutions.

In 2015, the tax revenue collected by Sri Lanka Customs amounted to Rs.714 billion in cash, an increase of 25% compared to 2014 revenue collection of Rs.533 billion. 

According to the provincial figures of Sri Lanka Customs, around one third of revenue was generated through vehicle import duties, which stood at Rs.229 billion in 2015. The balance was generated from imports Rs.108 billion, PAL Rs.55 billion, excise duty Rs.79 billion, SCL Rs.52 billion and import cesslevyRs.42 billion. 

“Our target this year is to have revenue increased up to Rs. 953 billion.The total estimated income of the Government this year is Rs.2,004 billion of which 50% is expected to be from the Customs, while the balance is expected to be generated through Inland Revenue and Excise Departments,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said at an event held at Sri Lanka Customs.

Noting that the Government had presented a revolutionary Budget he explained that it is now time to implement those proposals. 

“As a nation we gained independence many moons ago, but we are yet to gain true economic independence. Therefore, our aim now is to grant economic independence for all the people in the country,” the Minister added. 

Sri Lanka Customs Chief Financial Officer D.U.S. Wickramaarachchi told the Daily FT that the target given by the Finance Ministry for 2015 had been achieved by the department.

He said the original target of Rs.679 billion set by the Finance Ministry was later revised to Rs.720 billion. 

“As per our provisional figures the department had collected Rs.714 billion in cash, while Rs.16 million was generated via cross entries,” Wickramaarachchi added.

He asserted that they are hopeful of achieving this year’s revenue target as well. 

In addition Sri Lanka Customs linked up with high tech ‘Single Window program’ initiated by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake in line with the international regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) to increase the efficiency of Customs related activities.

Having understood the importance of introducing such technically advanced system to a developing country like Sri Lanka, Minister Karunanayake instructed the Sri Lanka Customs to fast track introduction of this system to the country and as a result it will come into operation from Monday, a statement from the Finance Ministry noted.  

The Minister stated that the measure was implemented to enable Sri Lanka to be on a par with the global trading standards

Under this program all public and private sector institutions involved in the import export sector will be allowed to lodge information with a single body to fulfill all import or export related regulatory requirements.