Amid rising discontent from consumers and small-scale importers, Sri Lanka’s e-commerce sector has come under increasing strain due to a mix of stringent tax policies, customs delays, and the absence of a supportive regulatory framework.

The boom in cross-border online purchases has been met with government-imposed restrictions and burdensome clearance procedures, creating bottlenecks in the supply chain.

These issues have stifled growth in a sector that once held promise as a post-pandemic economic driver, especially for entrepreneurs and SMEs relying on global platforms like Amazon, AliExpress, and eBay.

In response to the growing crisis, the Cabinet of Ministers this week approved the formation of a Special Committee tasked with offering temporary operational relief and designing a comprehensive regulatory framework for cross-border e-commerce in Sri Lanka.

The decision was announced at the post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday by Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

He said the new committee would be made up of officials from key government institutions and would focus on two core responsibilities: short-term facilitation of e-commerce import clearance and long-term regulatory planning to ensure smoother operations and better revenue collection.

“There is an urgent need to regulate and support the rising volume of goods entering the country through cross-border online platforms,” Dr. Jayatissa stated. “We must ensure the Government’s ability to collect taxes without stifling this growing digital economy.”

The surge in cross-border e-commerce has overwhelmed the existing customs infrastructure. Recent amendments to clearance procedures by Sri Lanka Customs, intended to reduce loopholes and inefficiencies, have inadvertently worsened the situation.

These new processes have resulted in long delays, higher transaction costs, and less transparency, disproportionately affecting individual buyers and small-scale importers.

The issue is further compounded by mounting complaints about erratic taxation and inconsistent handling of packages, eroding public trust in the system. Entrepreneurs who built businesses around imported goods now face declining revenues and operational uncertainty, while everyday consumers are discouraged by hidden charges and unpredictable customs experiences.

The committee’s formation was initiated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Finance, Planning, and Economic Development Minister. It aims to strike a critical balance—supporting innovation and online commerce while securing state revenue and regulatory oversight.

With digital trade poised to become a significant component of Sri Lanka’s economic future, experts stress that policy coherence, technological upgrading of customs systems, and private sector consultations will be vital to resolving the current impasse and unlocking the sector’s full potential.

A representative team from TikTok Sri Lanka met with Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri on Wednesday (16) at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss potential collaborations aimed at expanding the use of digital platforms beyond entertainment, with a focus on economic empowerment and digital education.

The discussions centered on how TikTok can contribute to creating opportunities in digital learning, economic platforms, and responsible digital usage. The representatives emphasized the importance of integrating digital literacy, legislative awareness, research, and digital hygiene into national education curricula to equip youth with relevant 21st-century skills.

Highlighting the importance of digital inclusion, the TikTok team proposed collaborative efforts to promote safe and informed engagement with social media, especially among young users. They also underscored the platform’s capacity to serve as a tool for economic development and creative entrepreneurship.

Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri expressed support for the initiative and stressed the urgency of aligning such efforts with ongoing educational reforms to ensure swift and meaningful implementation.

Also in attendance were TikTok’s Head of Government Relations and Public Affairs for South Asia, Ferdous Al Mottakin, Prime Minister’s Additional Secretary, and other senior officials. The meeting marks a step forward in fostering partnerships between global digital platforms and Sri Lanka’s evolving educational and economic strategies.

Environmentalists are calling on the Government to take urgent and sustainable measures to mitigate the escalating human–elephant conflict (HEC), warning that the situation is reaching crisis levels in several districts.

They are pressing for the immediate activation of recommendations outlined in the 2020 Presidential Committee Report on HEC mitigation. The 11-member committee, chaired by renowned environmental scientist Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, Head of the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR), submitted a comprehensive 60-page report in December 2020. Despite its potential, the report has largely remained unimplemented.

Wildlife conservation experts have voiced frustration over the report being sidelined, particularly since a second Presidential Committee was appointed in October 2022 to oversee its implementation — yet with limited visible progress.

Dr. Fernando criticized the long-standing reliance on linear electric fences, describing the method as ineffective given that 70% of the elephant range now overlaps with human settlements. “The core problem is trying to confine elephants to protected areas, a strategy that has failed for over 70 years,” he said.

He emphasized the efficacy of community-managed seasonal electric fences to protect vulnerable crops, as recommended in the 2020 National Action Plan. According to him, about 200 seasonal electric fences were set up around paddy fields in 2024, with another 200 planned for 2025 in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Hambantota, and Kurunegala districts.

These efforts are being supported by donor agencies like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, along with programmes such as the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) and Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme. International NGOs including the Abraham Foundation, Shared Earth Foundation, Whitley Fund for Nature, Marjo Hoedemaker Elephant Foundation, TUI Care Foundation, and the Zoological Society of London are also funding the fencing initiatives.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation reports that from 2010 to July 2025, 4,815 elephants and 1,614 people have died due to HEC. Currently, Sri Lanka maintains 5,400 kilometres of linear electric fencing, with plans underway to expand this by an additional 2,000 kilometres.

Meanwhile, under the direction of North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, a multi-pronged HEC mitigation programme is being launched. As part of this effort, five elephant corridors are set to be declared in Digampothana, Fifth Mile Post, Nachchaduwa-Mahakanadarawa, Nachchaduwa-Wilpattu, and Puliyankulama by 2026. Alarmingly, 27 out of 29 DS divisions in the province are currently affected by rising conflict levels.

Environmentalists stress that without immediate and strategic implementation of the 2020 committee’s proposals, both human and elephant casualties will continue to rise—further threatening biodiversity, agriculture, and rural livelihoods across Sri Lanka.

A 24-member delegation of young political leaders representing 14 political parties from Sri Lanka met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri as they commenced a two-week-long programme in India.

During the meeting, Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted the crucial role that emerging political leaders play in shaping the future of Indo-Lanka relations. He stressed the importance of their engagement in deepening the longstanding partnership between the two nations and contributing meaningfully to its future roadmap.

The visit reflects ongoing efforts to foster people-to-people connections and political understanding between Sri Lanka and India, particularly through youth engagement and leadership development.

Sri Lanka has joined a cross-regional group of countries in signing a letter addressed to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, expressing deep concern over the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The letter was jointly signed by Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Iceland, Namibia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In the joint statement, the signatories reaffirmed their strong support for Albanese’s mandate and emphasized the importance of protecting the independence and integrity of the UN Special Procedures mechanism. They urged the United Nations to uphold the autonomy of its human rights experts in the face of growing pressure and intimidation.

Echoing sentiments previously expressed by the President of the UN Human Rights Council, the letter conveyed regret over the decision to impose sanctions on Albanese and condemned such actions as politically motivated attempts to discredit the work of UN-mandated officials.

“These unwarranted and unjust attacks are clearly aimed at undermining the legitimacy and credibility of UN Special Procedures mandate holders, particularly those who expose grave violations of international law,” the letter stated.

The move reflects growing international concern about threats to the impartiality and effectiveness of UN human rights mechanisms, particularly when they address sensitive geopolitical issues such as the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, announced that Sri Lanka and the United States are currently in active discussions aimed at securing duty-free access for a broad range of goods traded between the two countries.

Addressing the media, Dr. Fernando revealed that the negotiations are focused on reducing or removing tariffs on Sri Lankan exports to the U.S.—notably in the apparel and agriculture sectors—while also considering tariff reductions for certain U.S. goods imported into Sri Lanka.

“Although we are still in the middle of the process and no final agreement has been reached, the U.S. side has expressed willingness to consider granting zero-duty access to many Sri Lankan export categories,” he said.

Citing diplomatic protocol, Dr. Fernando noted that full details cannot be disclosed until the agreement is finalized. “Until we finalise the agreement, we are not disclosing the details under what we call non-disclosure exclusivity. That’s the proper diplomatic practice. Once we conclude, we will inform the public,” he added.

As part of the ongoing discussions, Sri Lanka has submitted a list of 1,161 export items, including 42 agricultural products. The list also features a wide array of garments and textiles, which represent a major portion of the country’s exports to the U.S.

Dr. Fernando stated that the U.S. has already agreed to grant duty-free access to approximately 70–80% of the items listed—a development he described as “highly encouraging.”

The talks are reciprocal, he stressed, with Sri Lanka also exploring reductions in tariffs on U.S. imports, which currently total around US$ 300 million annually. Present tariff rates on these goods range from 0% to 20%, and the government is evaluating whether modest reductions could be made without negatively impacting state revenue.

“This is part of a broader strategy to enhance bilateral trade and create mutually beneficial economic ties,” Dr. Fernando concluded.

Showers will occur at times in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts. Fairly heavy falls about 50 mm are likely at some places.

Several spells of showers may occur in the Western and North-western provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the Uva, Northern and Eastern provinces during the afternoon or night.

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and North-central provinces.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.