Electronic cargo clearance from this month

(Lankapuvath) - Sri Lanka Customs Department has introduced electronic cargo clearance for selected importers under its gold card scheme.

A senior official of the Customs, explaining the new system, which is effective from this month told Lankapuvath that electronic clearance of imports was not available during the past.

"Electronic clearance of imports was not possible because ship's agents and other government bodies were not ready. But we will go ahead with it, starting from this week," he said.

Customs has already selected around 40 importers for special treatment based on volume of customs declarations and tax payments where these selected companies could submit customs declarations electronically and will have their cargo cleared under green channel treatment.

"But Customs reserves the right to random verifications and inspections and the hard copies of the documents must be submitted to clear the goods. The hard copies of the documents will also be used for post audits," he mentioned.