Tiles and ceramic imports take U-turn

• Gazette relaxing import restrictions speedily reversed day after issue

A day after relaxing import restrictions on tiles and ceramic products, the Government yesterday did a U-turn to suspend the Gazette notification and continue import limits. 

A Gazette notification was issued on Tuesday relaxing the import restrictions on tiles and ceramic products. As per that Gazette importation of ceramic items under HS headings of 69.05, 69.06, 69.07, 69.10, 69.11, 69.12, 69.13 and 69.14 could be imported with only on a minimum 180-day credit facility provided by the foreign supplier, from the date of Bill of Lading or Airway Bill of said goods.

However, the Import and Export Control Department yesterday issued new operating instructions for Sri Lanka Customs and all commercial banks to suspend the implementation of regulation No. 3 and 4 of the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2213/8 dated 2 February, until further notice.

The operating instructions have been issued under the power vested in Imports and Exports Control Act No. 1 of 1969 and in terms of Regulations No. 17 of the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2184/21 dated 16 April 2020. 

The Government initiated import restrictions in April 2020 to protect reserves and minimise currency depreciation after Sri Lanka went into its first countrywide lockdown for COVID-19. It has since been called on by the European Union to repeal the import limitation, which Sri Lanka has defended as temporary and essential to maintaining economic stability.