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Source : Embassy of Switzerland in Sri= Lanka
21.01.2021
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan authorities announced that the international airports in = the country (Colombo BIA and Mattala HRI) will be reopened for inbound flig= hts on 21.01.2021.
Here (PDF, 1.9 MB) you can read the Sri L= anka Tourism safety protocols published by the Ministry of Tourism based on= the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.
Guide f= or Tourists arriving in Sri Lanka. (JPG, 94.2 kB)
Source: https://www.eda.admin.ch/colombo
Source: Foreign Ministry - Sri Lanka= p>
21.01.2021
Source: https://mfa.gov.lk/acd-2021/
Source: IMPACCT/UN OCHA
23.07.2020
COVID-19 [Sri Lanka]
Bulletin n=C2=B03 =E2=80=93 CI=
QP : 23 July 2020 (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures)
_________________________________________________________________
05.06.2020
COVID-19 [Sri Lanka]
Bulletin n=C2=B02 =E2=80=93 CI=
QP : 5 June 2020 (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Procedures)
IMPORTATION AND CUSTOMS
Customs, land, sea (updated 29 May 2020)
According to a best practices update published by the Sri Lanka Customs aut=
hority to the World Customs Organization on 28 April, the country has imple=
mented a number of interim measures to ensure uninterrupted Customs op=
erations during the pandemic.
This includes measures to facilitate the cross-border movement of relief= and essential supplies:
=E2=80=A2 Routine cargo selectivity criteria have been tailored, especia= lly to release medium and low-risk cargo, focusing only on high-risk cargo.= As a result, around 70% of the essential items were released under Green C= hannel;
=E2=80=A2 With the concurrence of other government agencies, a procedure= was introduced to receive and coordinate regulatory approvals such as stan= dards and permits via electronic means to ensure expedited clearance and re= lease;
=E2=80=A2 Provisional online procedures were introduced to verify certif= icates of origin and grant preferential tariff treatments for transactions = under Preferential Free Trade Agreements (PTA) under the South Asian Associ= ation Regional Corporation (SAARC);
=E2=80=A2 Provisional goods clearance procedures have been extended, wit= h priority for consignments of relief goods and consignments needing expedi= ted clearance;
=E2=80=A2 Existing 24x7 services were limited to approximately 8 hours p= er day in view of the low volume of exports as most of the factories were c= losed for operations due to government policy on minimizing human gathering= . However, facilities were made available on call as required during Custom= s non-operating hours;
=E2=80=A2 In addition to the regular Customs Enquiry Point, a special 24= x7 help desk is in operation to attend public and stakeholder inquiries;
=E2=80=A2 COVID-19 Contingency Plans detailing working hours and arrange= ments and emergency official contact numbers were published and regularly u= pdated on the Sri Lanka Customs website.
Other measures in the document aim at sustaining supply chain continuity= , protecting Customs administrations=E2=80=99 staff (including social dista= ncing measures), and other internal restrictions.
Sea ports:
According to an update by Wilhelmsen on 5 June 2020, all sea vessels whose =
previous port call was from COVID-19 high risk countries must submit the fo=
llowing documents:
=E2=80=A2 Pre-arrival documentation on health declaration;
=E2=80=A2 Last 10 ports of call with dates;
=E2=80=A2 Vessel status report;
=E2=80=A2 Crew list;
=E2=80=A2 Information on port of embarkation and date.
Crew change is permitted, subject to the following conditions:
=E2=80=A2 Foreign crew changes are now allowed based on a Standard Opera= ting Procedure (SOP) issued by Authorities. Various restrictions and rules = apply for on- and off-signing crew.
=E2=80=A2 Bulk crew change (on signers and off signers) will be assessed= and can be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Shore leave is not permitted unless it is for medical reasons. Further r= estrictions apply:
=E2=80=A2 No SSCE renewal can be carried out during this period;
=E2=80=A2 Minimal contact between individuals is to be maintained;
Customs, importation procedure (updated 15 May 2020)
. According to a Logistics Cluster update on 15 May 2020:
=E2=80=A2 All commercial borders are still open to cargo movement;
=E2=80=A2 There are a limited number of truckers and Customs officers on= duty due to the pandemic.
=E2=80=A2 PCR tests are to be undertaken;
=E2=80=A2 Crew are to be accommodated in Safe Houses during transit.
According to an announcement from the Sri Lanka Customs department dated 18=
April 2020, cargo import and export clearance operations have started whil=
e adhering to the government policy on social distancing during the pandemi=
c.
The working hours of various Customs offices for both sea and air cargo imp=
ortation are as follows:
=E2=80=A2 Long Room, Customs Headquarters =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to 04.00 =
pm
=E2=80=A2 RCT Examination Yard, Orugodawatte =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to 12.=
00 am
=E2=80=A2 GL 1&2, High Risk Examination Yard, Grandpass =E2=80=93 From =
10.00 am to 08.00 pm
=E2=80=A2 NNR LCL Warehouse, Peliyagoda =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to 04.00 pm=
=E2=80=A2 Other LCL Warehouses, Colombo Port =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to 04.=
00 pm
=E2=80=A2 Valuation Unit, Orugodawatte RCT Yard =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to =
08.00 pm
=E2=80=A2 Front Line Valuation Unit (Long Room) =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to =
04.00 pm
=E2=80=A2 Air Cargo, Katunayake =E2=80=93 From 10.00 am to 05.00 pm
More information, as well as information on exports and transshipments, = can be found on the notice. As an extended facilitation, a template-based p= rocessing of applications and other operational requests will be provided o= ver email. More information as well as contact details can be found on the = notice.
Source: WCO/Sri Lanka Customs (SLC)
28.04.2020
1. Measures aiming to Facilitate the Cross-border Movement o=
f Relief and
Essential Supplies
1.1. Routine cargo selectivity criteria were tailored, especially to releas=
e medium and low
risk cargo, thus focusing only on the high-risk cargo. As a result, around =
70% of the
essential items were released under Green Channel.
1.2. With the concurrence of other government agencies, a procedure was int=
roduced to
receive and coordinate regulatory approvals such as standards and permits v=
ia
electronic means to ensure expedited clearance and release.
1.3. Provisional online procedures were introduced to verify certificates o=
f origin and grant
preferential tariff treatments for transactions under Preferential Free Tra=
de Agreements
(PTA) under South Asian Association Regional Corporation (SAARC). For consi=
stent
implementation of the same a special webinar was also organized by the SAAR=
C
Secretariat with the participation of members; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhu=
tan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
1.4. Provisional goods clearance procedure was extended, with priority, for=
consignments of
relief goods and consignments needing expedited clearance.
1.5. Existing 24x7 services were limited to approximately 8 hours per day i=
n view of the low
volume of exports as most of the factories were closed for operations due t=
o
government policy on minimizing human gathering. However, facilities were m=
ade
available on call as required during Customs non-operating hours.
1.6. In addition to the regular Customs Enquiry Point, a special 24x7 help =
desk is in
operation to attend public and stakeholder inquiries.
1.7. COVID-19 Contingency Plans detailing working hours and arrangements an=
d
emergency official contact numbers were published and regularly updated on =
the Sri
Lanka Customs website http://www.customs.gov.lk
2. Measures aiming at Supporting the Economy and Sustaining =
Supply Chain Continuity
Sri Lanka Customs, as the Frontline Border Agency, provided active contribu=
tion to the
Presidential Task Force that was established to monitor and prevent spreadi=
ng COVID-19, as
well as to provide essential services to sustain overall community life in =
the country.
Following policy decisions were put into action in respect of Customs accor=
dingly.
2.1. Hold meetings on a regular basis with key governmental agencies that a=
re engaged in the
essential services thus carrying forward real political will.
2.2. Take immediate steps to maintain the social distancing and to minimize=
human Gathering
in Customs operational work areas.
2.3. Implement concessionary tariff rates introduced to ensure constant sup=
ply of essential
medicines and medical devices.
2.4. Relax regulatory requirements such as standards approvals and licenses=
subject to post
clearance checks.
2.5. Introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for processing of appli=
cations for Inward
Processing and attending incidental operational requests and inquiries over=
electronic mail
with templates ensuring undisrupted execution of industry and related impor=
t and export
activities during difficult periods such as epidemics and terrorism.
2.6. Facilitate Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to evacuate the spaces nea=
r the cargo
unloading bays in order to maintain the continuity of unloading goods from =
the vessels
keeping supply chain undisrupted, by providing clearance for even nonessent=
ial goods
from time to time.
3. Measures aiming at Protecting Customs administrations=E2=
=80=99 Staff
Following Steps were taken to maintain social distancing of the staff while=
minimizing
intervention of Customs staff.
3.1. Number of staff deployed was kept to a minimum on a roster divided int=
o several groups
where one such group consists around 20% of the normal number of staff.
3.2. The staff continued their duties by connecting virtually from their ho=
mes.
3.3. Sanitizing facilities and protective gears were provided to the staff =
where required.
3.4. An approved disinfecting chamber was established at the entrance to th=
e Customs
premises.
3.5. An interim paperless procedure was introduced for electronic submissio=
n and
processing of CusDecs (Goods declarations) taking advantage of existing e-p=
ayment
platform for implementing social distancing requirements introduced by the =
government
for countering contagion.
4. Measures aiming at Protecting Society
4.1. Expedited Customs clearance processes were provided for the clearance =
of inward and
outward passengers in terms of the prompt measures taken by the government =
(given
below) to prevent COVID 19.
=EF=82=B7 Facilitated processing of departing foreign nationals, mostly tou=
rists, on special
flights that were arranged.
=EF=82=B7 Facilitated processing of Sri Lankan nationals who were brought d=
own by special
flights arranged by the government.
=EF=82=B7 Steps were taken to refer the passengers arrived from abroad dire=
ctly to the
specially established quarantine centres managed by the government.
=EF=82=B7 Actions were taken to temporarily shut-down the unaccompanied pas=
senger
baggage clearance depots until the situation stabilizes in view of the fact=
that the
majority of these passengers are from every corner of the island.
4.2. As the frontline border Agency in Sri Lanka, active contribution was p=
rovided to the
Presidential Task Force that was established to monitor and prevent spreadi=
ng COVID19, as well as to provide essential services to sustain overall com=
munity life in the country.
5. Other Measures.
5.1. Continuous dialog was established with related other governmental agen=
cies and
private sector for co-ordination and to address concerns. Meetings with oth=
er
governmental agencies and private sector were held continuously maintaining=
social
distancing standards.
5.2. Necessary arrangements were made with Sri Lanka Police to coordinate a=
nd facilitate
travel of Customs staff, transporters, and Customs House Agents who are eng=
aged in
clearance of goods.
5.3. Request to waive demurrage charges were efficiently coordinated with S=
ri Lanka
5.4. Ports Authority, two private terminal handlers and Air Cargo Authoriti=
es by the traders
on port demurrage charges, as and when required.
5.5. Fullest cooperation was established with Private stakeholders of Inlan=
d Clearance
Depots (cargo examination points) in order to facilitate the clearance whil=
e adhering
government policies to protect staff and the Customs House Agents.
5.6. Prompt actions were taken to facilitate requests send by foreign missi=
ons, especially to
expedite some essential exports.
Further information: http://www.wcoomd.org/........../natural-disaster/covid_19/sri-lanka_= en.pdf?la=3Den
Source:
18.04.2020
Sri Lanka Customs has decided to start the operations for the clearance = of all import and export cargo while adhering to the government policy to m= aintain social distancing during the COVID19 epidemic.
Source: http://www.custo= ms.gov.lk/public/images/ict_17032020/wrup18042020.pdf
=
Remarks from the International Road Tr= ansport Union
Forthcoming