Colombo – October 1, 2026

The paperless Customs Declaration (CusDec) process at Sri Lanka Customs’ Long Room division in Colombo has become mandatory from October 1, 2026.

Under the new requirement, importers and customs declarants must submit CusDecs and their relevant supporting documents electronically using valid digital signatures, instead of submitting them on paper. Sri Lanka Customs has announced that paper documents submitted in person under the previous procedure will no longer be accepted.

The change is being implemented through the ASYCUDA World system. The stated objectives of electronic submission include speeding up clearance procedures, reducing administrative delays and paper use, and making it easier to track the movement of documents.

The system has now become mandatory following its introduction as a pilot last year. It is also expected to reduce the need for importers to repeatedly take documents to customs offices.

However, this does not mean that all Sri Lanka Customs operations have become entirely paperless. The mandatory requirement currently applies to CusDec submissions through the Colombo Long Room.