COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) is expected to collect Rs. 1 trillion as tax revenue for 2016, Director General Chulananda Perera said.
Speaking at a seminar on Sri Lanka Customs’ Single Window Implementation for Boarder Regulatory Authorities, Perera said the Customs will take proactive measures to reach this target. Perera however noted that the SLC is not willing to touch every aspect in an ad-hoc manner to realize this target.
Commenting on operational benefits and the processes of the recently implemented single window system, Perera said the new system will help increase the efficiency of customs’ related activities and will be beneficial to both traders and the Sri Lanka Customs.
The system will also help ensure the smooth flow of information between the government, traders and to help the government ensure efficient deployment of resources and correct revenue yield.
Under the 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.
With a view to facilitating legitimate trade; necessary measures will be taken to improve the technical aspects relating to export and import activities of the Sri Lanka Customs.The DG said that measures have also been taken to acquire advanced passenger information and cargo information systems.
“All employees attached to the Customs will be trained and better equipped to handle customs operations in a transparent and efficient manner.
To this end, SLC is in discussions with several countries to get their support to conduct capacity building programs for its employees.”
Sri Lanka Customs ICT Division’s Athula Lankadeva speaking on the deployment of digital signatures towards paperless processing at Sri Lanka Customs said that SLC is committed to offer the facility of paperless processing to the compliant traders and take necessary steps to complete the requisite tasks on priority basis.
The technical team of SLC has met Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) officials in this regard and legal opinion of the Attorney General has been obtained.
SL Customs is also hoping to set up disaster recovery sites in three months. The ICT policy for Customs Department is currently under development incorporating provisions for information security management suitable for paperless processing, more controls in granting access to the Customs computer system and the procedures for dealing with breach of access policy among others.
