The Customs Ordinance with amendments will be presented to the legal draftsman within the next couple of months, Director General, Sri Lanka Customs, Chulananda Perera said.
He said discussions are going on within the Customs Department to make the final amendments before presenting the Bill for enactment.
“We have consulted all the stakeholders and have incorporated their views in amending the existing Customs Ordinance. The new Act will come into force before the end of this year,” Perera said.The age-old Customs Ordinance dating back to the British era had to undergo amendments to make it relevant to the current global trade regulations and requirements. Thus the idea to bring about changes to the Ordinance was mooted last year by the Finance Ministry and the Sri Lanka Customs.
“The Customs went through a tough time with opposition from various quarters regarding the dilution of the powers vested in the Customs Department in amending certain clauses of the ordinance. However, we overcame all obstacles and finally came up with a sound legal system for the Customs,” a Customs official said.
Trade unions initially opposed the drafting of a new Bill for the Customs on grounds that powers which have been centralized in the Director General and devolved systematically will be done away with resulting in the Customs being incapable of generating the share of revenue to government coffers.
However, according to the Director General after several rounds off discussions with trade union officials and the trading community, the final touches are being made for the Bill to be enacted.
Customs Officers Union President Dr. N.S. Kumanayake said the proposals of trade unions and the trading community have been included in the new Customs Ordinance which will be presented to the legal draftsman soon.
“All areas have been looked into and will strengthen the Customs to facilitate trade and generate revenue to the government,” Dr. Kumanayake said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Customs last week launched its new website to create a close and friendly rapport with the trading community.
The website will provide information on clearance procedure, information related to the Customs, the public, passengers, importers, exporters and clearing agents, access to automated system - ASYCUDA World of Sri Lanka Customs, facility to download application forms and instructions to register in the information systems of the Customs, information on updated exchange rates, data on Customs duty and levies and auctions of abandoned goods and items forfeited by the Customs.
The Customs accounts for a revenue collection of around 57 percent of the total tax revenue to the country. It plays a pivotal role in controlling and monitoring imports and exports of restricted and prohibited goods.
Assessing and collecting import and export Customs duties and other levies such as VAT, Excise and CESS on behalf of state institutions, preventing commercial frauds by enforcing customs and other related law, corporate in the development of local industries, execute import and export clearance procedure and maintain regular communication between World Customs Organisation and other affiliated international organizations and state institutions are some of the key functions of Sri Lanka Customs.