G/LIC/N/3/LKA/2  
 
19 February 2014  
(14-1045)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
  REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON  IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
SRI LANKA 
The following communication, dated 11 February 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Sri Lanka. 
 
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Outline of System  
1.  Import and Export Licensing System is regula ted by the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 
of 1969 and two subsequent amendments and regu lations published under the aforesaid Act as 
Extra Ordinary Gazette Notifications with the objective of providing safety to economy, 
environment, public health and public security. 
 Purposes and Coverage of Licensing  
2.  Import controlled commodities are listed in the Government Gazettes (Extra Ordinary) 
No. 1813/14 on 05.06.2013.    3.  The system applies to goods originating and coming from all countries.  
 
4.  Automatic import licensing is not practiced in Sri Lanka.  Non-automatic import licensing is primarily for the purpose of safeguarding enviro nmental, public security and public health 
interests.   
 5.  The licensing is a statutory requirement.  The Authority exists to suspend the system, 
w h e n e v e r  i t  i s  d e t e r m i n e d  t h a t  s u c h  a c t i o n  i s  a p p r o p r i a t e .   N o t i c e  o f  s u c h  a c t i o n  i s  p u b l i s h e d  
though the Government Gazette notifications.    Procedures  
6.  There are no products under quantitative or value-based restrictions, except for the chemical 
varieties published in Schedule I of the Gazette (Extra Ordinary) No. 1821/40 on 01.08.2013.   
I. Information relating to formalities of filing applications for licenses, exceptions and 
derogations is published in the Government Gazette. 
 
II- IV.  Not applicable. 
 V.  Upon receipt of all necessary information/documentation, an application is usually processed 
within 7 days.  
 
                                               
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/LKA/2 
 
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  VI.  Import licenses are granted at least 30 days prior to the date of opening of the period of 
importation.  
 VII.  License applications are considered by on e administrative body, namely, Import and Export 
Control Department. 
 VIII.  All requests for licenses are considered on “first-come, first served basis” subject to 
fulfillment of stipulated requirements.  
 IX.  Not applicable.   
X. Not applicable.  
 XI. Licenses are sometimes issued on the condition that goods should be exported and not sold 
in the domestic market. This situation, however, is applicable only to imports made by 
companies approved by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka as export-oriented industries.   
 
7.  Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular 
country;   (a) Application for a license must be made at least one week in advance of importation. Licenses 
can be obtained within a shorter time limit or for goods arriving at the port without a 
license. 
 
(b)  Licenses are issued in 7 days, provided all conditions have been satisfied and documents are 
complete.  
 
(c)  There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for license 
and/or importation may be made. 
 (d)  In connection with an application, an importer has to approach only one administrative 
organ, namely, the Import and Export Control Department.   
 
8.  None.  The reason for any refusal is given to applicant in writing.  In the event of refusal to 
issue a license, the applicant has a right of  appeal to the Ministry concerned.  
 Eligibility of importers to apply for license 
9.  Following persons or classes of persons are el igible to import goods under the regulations of 
Import and Export Control Act (Schedule II of  the Gazette (Extra Ordinary) No. 1739/3 on 
02.01.2012).  
i. An individual, or an individual trading, in his own name or under a business name; 
ii. A firm partnership or other entity which shall be registered in Sri Lanka; iii. Public companies and private companies which are incorporated in Sri Lanka under the 
Company Act No. 7 of 2007; 
iv. Non-nationals who has a valid visa to reside in Sri Lanka.  
Documentation and other requirements for licenses  
10. Following documents should be submitted with a duly completed application. (Application 
forms can be downloaded from the "Downloads" of the Department’s website http://www.imexport.gov.lk. 
 
i. Proforma invoice; ii. Business Registration Certificate or National Identity Card (in first application); 
iii. Duly filled indent form (Application). 
 In addition to the above documents, importers of  the following commodities/products will have to 
produce a letter of recommendation from the respective authority.  
 G/LIC/N/3/LKA/2 
 
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Type of Commodity Recommendation Authority 
 
Western drugs Drugs and Cosmetic Devices Authority 
Ayurvedic drugs Commissioner of Ayurveda 
Homeopathy drugs Homeopathy Council 
Pesticides Registrar of Pesticides 
Veterinary drugs Veterinary Drugs Authority 
Animal products Director/Animal Production and Health 
Arms, ammunitions, explosives  Ministry of Defense 
Radioactive materials Atomic Energy Authority 
Petroleum products Ceylon Petroleum Corporation  
Used refrigerators and air conditioners Ministry of Environment 
Telecommunication equipment Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, 
Ministry of Defense  
Chemicals under the Montreal Protocol  National Ozone Unit, Ministry of  Environment 
Chemicals under the Basel Convention Central Environmental Authority  
Chemicals under the Stockholm Convention  Ministry of Environment  
Chemicals under the Chemical Weapons Convention  Ministry of Industries and Commerce 
Tea Tea Board  
 
11.  Upon actual importation, an importer is required to submit the approved import license or a 
copy thereof.  (Documents required for importatio n of used motor vehicles vary on case by case 
basis. Related schemes and guidelines can be do wnloaded from “downloads” of the Department’s 
website (http://www.imexport.gov.lk). 
 
12.  Based on the product(s) to be imported, a license fee is applicable for processing the applications.  
 
13.  There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issuance of licenses.   Conditions of licensing 
14.  Validity period of licenses vary with the commodities.  Blanket licenses are also being issued 
for some selected commodities such as certain drugs and some petroleum products.  The number of extensions will depend on the justification provided by importers.  Validity period of the licenses 
can be extended three times only and is subject to a maximum period of one year.  
 15.  There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a license or a portion of it. 
 
16.  Licenses are not transferable between importers.  17.  The following conditions are attached to the issuance of a license. 
 
- Validity period; - Certificate of country of origin; 
- Free trade sample- should be limited to 10 percent of the trade stock. 
- Analysis report from the manufacturer is specially requested for Western drugs.  This report 
should provide information on composition and ingredients, strength of packing, date of 
manufacturing and expiry, side effects etc.; 
- Special conditions may apply depending on the commodity.  Other procedural requirements  
18. There are no other administrative procedures apart from import licensing required prior to 
importation.   G/LIC/N/3/LKA/2 
 
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  19. Foreign exchange is automatically provided  by the banking authorities for goods to be 
imported.  After acceptance of obligations under Article VIII of the IMF Agreement, foreign exchange for payment for importation of goods and services is permitted without any restriction.  At present, only a very limited number of items are under the requirement of an import license.  
Foreign exchange for import of goods and services can be obtained from any commercial bank (an 
authorized dealer in foreign exchange) subject to payment terms, stipulated in related government 
gazettes.  
 
 
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