Sri Lanka

Basic documents required by commercial banks for imports include an invoice, insurance certificate (if applicable), and transport documents. Depending on the product and the mode of payment, certificates such as certificates of origin, inspection certificates, and packing lists may also be required. Shipments by air cargo may require the same documentation as those arriving by sea. All shipping documents related to imports made on DP or DA terms should be forwarded by the supplier's bank or by the supplier to a commercial bank in Sri Lanka for release to the importer of goods. In the event the original documents are not received on time, the importer, at the discretion of the bank, may obtain a shipping guarantee and may submit copies of these documents for certification by the bank for clearance of the goods. The importer should arrange the original shipping documents to be received by the bank concerned within 30 days from the date of certification of the copies. On September 8, 2021, Sri Lanka introduced a 100 percent cash margin requirement for over 600 items including chocolates, wines, raincoats, and carpets to limit foreign currency demand. Since May 20, 2022, there is a ban on imports via open account terms (DA, DP, and advance payments).

To clear goods through customs, the importer should submit relevant shipping documents certified by a
commercial bank and customs declaration forms to the Sri Lanka Department of Customs. In the case of an import made on an advanced payment (AP) basis, goods will be released on submission of satisfactory proof of payment such as bank confirmations. In the case of an import made on consignment-account basis, goods will be released by customs on the submission of clearance documents.

All labeling of packages should be in large bold lettering in indelible ink or paint. For container cargo, the weight, center of gravity, and sling or grab points, may be marked to encourage careful handling. Goods shipped to Sri Lanka should be well-packed to withstand heat, humidity, rough handling, and pilferage. Shipping marks should show consignee order number and port of entry.

Food labeling: Government food-labeling regulations require that food products cannot be sold, offered for sale, transported, or advertised unless labeled in accordance with these regulations. Detailed instructions of these regulations can be found in the government Gazette No. 2337/ 19 of June 23, 2023, No. 1323/2 of January 12, 2004, Food Labelling and Advertising Regulations of 2005 Gazette No. 1376/9 and Food Color Coding for Sugar, Salt and Fat Regulations of 2019 Gazette No 26/1980.

Genetically Modified Food (GMO) labeling: In January 2007, the Ministry of Health implemented a regulation for mandatory labeling of genetically modified food. Regulations can be found in Gazette No. 1456/22, August 3, 2006.

Soft drinks: The government published regulations cited as the Food (Color Coding for Sugar levels) Regulations 2016, which required labeling of carbonated beverages, ready to serve drinks other than milk-based products and fruit juices. The labels need to display a numerical description of the sugar content, a description of the relative sugar level and a color code.

Medicines: In 2019 the National Medicines Regulatory Authority introduced labelling requirements for medicines imported, manufactured, processed, or packed locally.

The Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Sri Lanka's member body to the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), is the national standards organization in Sri Lanka. SLSI sets product standards, approves imports covered under a mandatory import-inspection scheme, and performs product testing, pre-export inspection, registration of fish and fishery products, and ISO quality management training.

Sri Lanka has adopted ISO 9000 series standards on quality management and assurance, ISO 14000 standards on environment-management systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) assurance for food-safety standards, and Good Management Practice Certificate (GMP), ISO 18000 on Occupational Safety, ISO 22000 on food safety management, and ISO 27000 on information security management.

Bilateral:
Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA)
Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA)
Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (SSLFTA)
Sri Lanka - Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA)

Multilateral:
Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
Agreement on Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)