‘National Single Window for Trade’ goes live in Sri Lanka

Daily FT reports Sri Lanka’s National Single Window for Trade began operating this week, almost 30 years after the project was first proposed. The online portal is designed to let traders file information once instead of sending duplicate paper forms to Customs, quarantine, port and other agencies. EconomyNext calls the platform One TRADE and describes it as a digital entry point for applications, declarations and information required by border authorities.

EconomyNext reports that the initial phase covers import, export and transshipment transactions across 124 tariff lines, with attention to Ceylon tea, fresh and processed coconut, copra, coir goods and arrack. Daily FT reports that two export sectors were included at the outset.

EconomyNext reports that an extraordinary gazette issued on November 4 set out regulations under the Electronic Transactions Act, which became effective on November 5. The outlet says documents and communications handled through the portal are legally valid and that GovTech Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd was appointed to operate it.

EconomyNext reports that the participating bodies are Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Tea Board, Coconut Development Authority, the National Plant Quarantine Service in the Department of Agriculture, and the Food Control Administration Unit in the Ministry of Health and Mass Media. EconomyNext says each can handle, approve or turn down digital filings under its existing authority. Newsfirst reports that the gazette framework was issued by Digital Economy Minister and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while Newswire says the launch was led by the Ministry of Finance.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.