President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that the current government is dedicated to making decisions that will shape the future of the country and enhance the living standards of its people. His remarks were made during a ceremony held at the Customs Department Auditorium on the afternoon of January 27, to commemorate International Customs Day.
This year’s theme for International Customs Day was “An Effective Customs Department to Build a Prosperous Nation.”
The Customs Cooperation Council, founded in 1952 by 17 European countries for customs cooperation, has been a key institution in international trade. Sri Lanka became a member in 1967, and in 1994, the organization was renamed the World Customs Organization (WCO). The inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council took place in Brussels, Belgium, on January 26, 1953, and the date has since been observed annually as International Customs Day.
Addressing the gathering, President Dissanayake outlined the government’s plans to implement structural reforms within the Sri Lanka Customs, Excise Department, and Inland Revenue Department, aiming to align these institutions with contemporary needs.
“No law or institution can remain static,” said President Dissanayake. “To meet the challenges of the times, both laws and institutions must evolve.”
The President further acknowledged the significant role played by Sri Lanka Customs in stabilizing the country’s economy. He commended Customs for their contributions in achieving last year’s goals, though he pointed out that rebuilding a collapsed economy requires more than simply meeting revenue targets. “To overcome the economic crisis, we must increase the revenue percentage,” he explained. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the shrinking import and export markets due to the economic downturn and emphasized the need for caution. “The economy may seem to recover on the surface, but it is still fragile,” he warned.
In light of these challenges, the President stressed the importance of collective efforts within the Customs Department to meet the revenue target of Rs. 2550 billion. A proposal has been submitted to improve Customs facilities and introduce a new salary scale, with discussions planned with the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury to find solutions. Additionally, the budget for this year includes provisions for increasing the basic salaries of government employees, alongside the integration of digital technologies to enhance public service efficiency. Legal reforms are also underway to strengthen institutional frameworks.
Reflecting on past challenges, President Dissanayake acknowledged the political and public service rift that delayed crucial reforms aimed at building stronger institutions. “There was a time when it was difficult to establish the right institutional structures at the right time,” he said. “This delay in reforming institutional structures led to missed opportunities for utilizing Sri Lanka’s strategic location.”
Looking ahead, the President called for concerted efforts to optimize the operation of 1.13 million container ships at Sri Lankan ports, urging public service employees to work together for the nation’s progress.
The President also presented certificates from the World Customs Organization to 20 customs officers for their exceptional service and awarded merit certificates to two officers. Additionally, the Director General of Customs presented President Dissanayake with a Customs Commemorative Medal.
The event was attended by several key figures, including Minister of Labor and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Harshana Suriyapperuma, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardena, Director General of Customs Sarath Nonis, and other senior officials from the Customs Department.
