Local industries demand for overhaul of e-commerce rules

LOCAL industries yesterday called for a comprehensive overhaul of the country's cross-border e-commerce framework, warning that gaps in Customs processes and policy loopholes are enabling tax evasion, distorting the local market, and threatening legitimate businesses.

- BY CHARUMINI DE SILVA

Addressing the media in response to a large-scale campaign led by groups with vested interests to shield cross-border e-commerce platforms, Courier Express Parcel Association of Sri Lanka (CEPAC) Vice President Sanjay Samarasinghe commended the Sri Lanka Customs lead-

Courier Express Parcel Association of Sri Lanka Vice President Sanjay Samarasinghe ership for taking bold steps to standardise the process in a first step to create a level playing field.

"We must commend the leadership and senior officials of the Sri Lanka Customs for taking a stand against corruption and standardise this process by introducing the Harmonised System (HS) codes," he said, adding that it was after many years that the industry stakeholders saw Customs officials taking some bold steps to prevent State revenue leakage.

However, he insisted that without a fair, transparent, and modern system aligned with international best practices, the country risks losing critical revenue and undermining its local industries.

"The meaning of an economy is the exchange of goods and money within its ecosystem. It is not about protectionism. It is about a level playing field," he said.

He revealed that a group of officials within the Sri Lanka Customs and a few courier companies and e-commerce platforms got together and created a process to clear goods based on kilograms.