RIYADH — Responding to public demand, the Sri Lankan government will allow duty-free concessions to some of the items that were listed under dutiable goods in a recent circular issued by Sri Lanka Customs: namely, four-burner cookers and washing machines.
Also, Lankans who have already sent goods back to the country have been given Sept. 1 to get their goods through Customs without facing a tariff.
Under a new circular issued by the government agency, items such as air conditioners, refrigerators with two or more doors and with capacities over 500 liters, dish washers, deep freezers, four burner cookers with ovens, fully automatic washing machines, CRT televisions exceeding 29 inches and LCD TVs exceeding 32 inches will not be available at the duty-free shops and these goods that come through unaccompanied baggage will be subject to customs duty.
“Even used items will also be subject to the same tariffs,” Sarath Jayathillake director general of Sri Lanka customs, told Arab News recently.
“We are seriously considering giving duty-free concessions on the purchase or import of washing machines and four-burner cookers by overseas Sri Lankan workers who are entitled for a duty free allowances.”
The customs chief said the government has also given a one-month grace period from Aug. 1 for those Sri Lankan expatriates whose electronic and household goods are aboard cargo liners.
Earlier, the government had not given any grace period, which angered those Lankan citizens who have already sent goods home without knowing about the new regulations.
Citing reasons for levying duty on these goods, Jayathillake pointed out that in a recent survey, “it was transpired that most of the items brought into the country have made their way to the market en masse through middlemen.”
On several occasions, he recalled that Sri Lanka customs has apprehended those involved in the illicit activity of selling these goods in the open market. “It’s a clever scheme to make buck out of the poor domestic aides who return home following overseas stay and we wish to put an end to it,” he said.
