Sri Lanka Customs is expected to exceed its 2025 revenue target by more than 400 billion rupees, supported largely by taxes on vehicle imports, Director General Seevali Arukgoda has revealed. The institution set a revenue goal of 2,115 billion rupees for the year, 36.2 percent higher than the 1,553 billion rupees collected in 2024. Official data shows that Customs revenue has already reached 2,312 billion rupees as of December 7, surpassing the annual target by 197 billion rupees.
Officials and the IMF have noted that a significant portion of this increase has come from vehicle imports, which have rebounded after years of restrictions imposed during the 2022 economic crisis. The government’s relaxation of import controls, stronger consumer demand, and improved foreign reserves have contributed to a rise in overall import volumes.
Stricter enforcement has also boosted revenue, with Customs tightening its monitoring of under-invoicing and misdeclaration of goods. Improved valuation practices and stronger compliance measures have helped raise collections from duties, excise taxes, and other levies.
With this surge in revenue, Sri Lanka Customs is set to remain one of the top contributors to state finances in 2025, providing a crucial buffer as the government works toward its fiscal targets under the IMF-supported economic reform program.
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