In the first 12 days of February 2026, Sri Lanka Customs has achieved over 63% of its revenue target for the month, as revealed by official data. The revenue target for February was set at 165.9 billion rupees, and within this short span, Customs has collected 105.3 billion rupees.
In January, Customs exceeded its revenue target by 45%, collecting an additional 72.3 billion rupees. Over the first 43 days of 2026, the department has already achieved 15.3% of its target for the year.
Since December, Customs has been expediting container clearance, following disruptions caused by the Ditwah devastation in November, which impacted activities for at least four days. This acceleration came amid increased imports in December.
Last year, Sri Lanka Customs collected a record 2,551 billion rupees, surpassing the revised target of 2,241 billion rupees and achieving a 64.2% increase compared to the previous year’s revenue of 1,553 million rupees. For 2026, a revenue target of 2,207 billion rupees has been set, which is 13.5% less than last year’s target due to a predicted significant decline in car imports.
The surge in revenue is largely attributed to stronger enforcement measures, improved valuation practices, and a rebound in import volumes following years of contraction. After the economic crisis of 2022, imports had sharply decreased as the country implemented restrictions to conserve foreign exchange. However, with the stabilization of reserves, relaxation of certain import controls, and a steady recovery in consumer demand, collections from import duties, excise, and other levies have increased.
Officials highlight that stricter monitoring of under-invoicing and misdeclaration of goods has further bolstered state revenue. The combined impact of heightened import activity, currency movements, and rigorous enforcement has positioned Customs as one of the leading revenue sources for the Treasury in 2025, offering essential support as the state strives to meet fiscal targets under the IMF-supported program.
(Colombo/February 13/2026)
