President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed senior officials to urgently address growing public concerns related to e-commerce and to deliver efficient, fair, and customer-centric solutions, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The President chaired a high-level meeting at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Sri Lanka Customs Department, focusing on streamlining customs procedures and removing bureaucratic obstacles that hinder digital trade and e-commerce growth.

A key topic discussed was the complexity of current customs procedures, which has become a major barrier for smooth online commercial transactions. Officials reviewed the digitization initiatives already in place, including the ASYCUDA system, and assessed the progress and shortcomings of these technologies.

The President emphasized the urgency of legislative reforms to enable a seamless digital economy by 2030, noting that outdated laws must be amended without further delay.

Additional concerns addressed included:

• Proper recording of imports and exports
  
• Issuance of tax exemptions
  
• Revenue tracking and identification
  
• Operational challenges in the National Single Window platform
  

Digital transformation was reaffirmed as a vital tool to improve transparency, efficiency, and service delivery in trade and customs operations.

The meeting was attended by:

• Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President
  
• Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance
  
• Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Senior Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy
  
• Russell Aponso, Senior Additional Secretary to the President
  
• P.B.S.C. Nonis, Director General of Customs
  
• Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Digital Economy
  

The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to accelerating e-governance reforms, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economy remains competitive and inclusive in the global digital landscape.