President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that while Sri Lanka’s economy may seem stable on the surface, it remains deeply fragile internally, requiring adherence to the guidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking at a ceremony held at the Customs Department Auditorium to commemorate World Customs Day, the President pledged that the government would make all necessary decisions to secure the country’s future and improve citizens’ living standards.
This year’s World Customs Day, themed “An Effective Customs Department to Build a Prosperous Nation,” was celebrated globally on January 26. The President lauded the Customs Department for its contributions to stabilizing the economy amid challenging times and highlighted the importance of structural reforms in key institutions like Customs, the Excise Department, and the Inland Revenue Department.
Acknowledging the constraints posed by the economic collapse, the President pointed out that while Customs achieved its revenue goals last year, meeting financial targets alone would not be sufficient to rebuild the economy. He noted the critical need to increase revenue percentages despite a shrinking import-export market.
The President stressed the importance of avoiding errors that could destabilize the already fragile economy. He called for collective efforts within the Customs Department to achieve this year’s revenue target of Rs. 2,550 billion, while promising to discuss improvements in facilities and salary structures with the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury.
The President outlined the government’s plans to integrate digitalization and technology to improve public service efficiency and implement legal reforms for stronger institutional structures. He acknowledged that past political and bureaucratic conflicts had hindered timely reforms, leading to missed opportunities for leveraging Sri Lanka’s strategic location.
Looking ahead, the President underscored the importance of enhancing the country’s capabilities to handle 1.13 million container ships annually, urging employees to unite in achieving this goal. He reiterated that failing to strengthen institutional frameworks at the right time would prevent Sri Lanka from advancing as a nation.
During the event, the President presented World Customs Organization certificates to 20 Customs officers for their outstanding service, along with merit awards to two officers. He also received a Customs Commemorative Medal from the Director General of Customs, Sarath Nonis.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Minister of Labor and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, and other senior officials from the Customs Department.
President Dissanayake concluded his remarks by highlighting the importance of working collectively to navigate the ongoing economic challenges, stressing that resilience, reform, and responsibility would be key to achieving national prosperity.
