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Sri Lanka Customs & Import Tools

Find HS Codes.
Understand Import Taxes.

Search Sri Lankan tariff classifications (HS codes), explore import taxes, tax exemptions and regulatory requirements.

Explore HS Chapters

Browse the Harmonized System (HS) chapters to find the right classification for your product.

Browse every HS section and chapter

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Vehicle Import Tax & HS Search

Enter a vehicle's make, model, engine capacity and fuel type to find the relevant classification, applicable taxes and import requirements.

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Preferential Tariff Rates

Explore concessions under applicable trade agreements (ISFTA, PSFTA, SAFTA, APTA and more) and compare preferential treatment for eligible goods.

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Import Regulatory Requirements

Discover relevant controls, licences and agency requirements (SLSI, ICL, NMRA, TRCSL) associated with a product's HS code.

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Import Duty Calculator

Describe a product to find its Sri Lankan HS code, then calculate duties, taxes, preferential rates and regulatory requirements.

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HS Code Details

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Click on an HS code from the results to view its breakdown and common commodities

How the Sri Lanka Import Duty Calculator Works

Import duties, preferential tariff rates, and regulatory requirements in Sri Lanka depend entirely on a commodity's 8-digit Harmonized System (HS) Code.

The First 6 Digits: Standardized internationally across global trade.
The Final 2 Digits: Known as National Subheadings, established by the Department of Trade and Investment Policy of Sri Lanka.

Because all tax rates and import controls are bound to these exact 8 digits, accurate classification is the first step.

How Customs Edge Calculates Your Landed Cost

Describe or Search: Enter your product description in plain language or input a known 8-digit HS code.
Automated Classification: Customs Edge identifies the correct Sri Lankan HS Code, links applicable Trade Agreement concessions (e.g., ISFTA, SAFTA), and checks regulatory requirements (e.g., ICL, SLSI).
Multi-Layer Tax Engine: The calculator applies the official Sri Lanka Customs Tariff schedule to generate a line-by-line tax breakdown, giving you the complete landed cost before you ship.

Import Duties and Levies in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's import tax structure is among the most complex in the region. Duties are not calculated as a single flat percentage; instead, up to 10 distinct taxes and levies can apply, often calculated cumulatively where one tax forms part of the base for the next.

Sri Lanka import duties and levies
Code	Levy Name	Description & Application
CID	Customs Import Duty	The base tariff levied on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value, ranging from 0% to 30%+.
SUR	Import Duty Surcharge	A direct surcharge calculated as a percentage of the Customs Import Duty (CID).
PAL	Ports and Airports Development Levy	A general levy applied on the CIF value to support infrastructure development.
EIC	Import Cess Levy	EDB Cess charged on specified commodities to protect and encourage local industries.
XID	Excise (Special Provisions) Duty	Charged on specific goods (vehicles, petroleum, alcohol, tobacco) on an enhanced tax base or specific unit rate.
SSCL	Social Security Contribution Levy	A cumulative 2.5% tax assessed on the CIF value (uplifted by 10%) plus all accumulated duties.
VAT	Value Added Tax	Applied on the cumulative total base (CIF + 10% + CID + PAL + Cess + Excise).
SCL	Special Commodity Levy	A composite tax imposed on essential commodities (e.g., sugar, rice, grain). When active, SCL replaces CID, VAT, PAL, Cess, and Excise.
LXT	Luxury Tax	Applicable primarily to luxury motor vehicles based on engine capacity or CIF thresholds.
VEL	Vehicle Entitlement Levy	A fixed flat levy applied to vehicle import declarations.

Lower Preferential Tariffs through Trade Agreements

You can view preferential duty rates and tax exemptions by looking up the HS Code. We display applicable concessions for major Trade Agreements.

Preferential trade agreements and member countries
Agreement	Code	Countries
Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement	PSFTA	Pakistan
India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement	ISFTA	India
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)	SAPTA	Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and 1 more
Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement	SSFTA	Singapore
Agreement on Global System of Trade Preference	GSTP	Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, and 36 more
Asia – Pacific Trade Agreement	APTA	China, India, Mongolia, South Korea
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement	BSFTA	Bangladesh
Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area	SAFTA	India, Maldives, Pakistan
Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (Least Developed Countries)	SAFTA (LDC)	Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal
Asia – Pacific Trade Agreement (Least Developed Countries)	APTA (LDC)	Bangladesh, Laos

Regulatory Requirements Applicable to Imports

Sri Lanka has over 30 regulatory bodies that may have serious implications when importing goods to Sri Lanka.

Note - While these regulations exists on paper, some of them may be redundant. Furthermore, only around one third of them have been definitively mapped to HS Codes.

Regulatory authorities, verification level, and regulation type
Authority Name	Verified	Regulation Type
Central Environmental Authority		Prior approval, inspection, or a ban on waste and scrap, used or reconditioned appliances, thin polythene and disposable plastics, asbestos, retreaded or used tyres, and ozone-depleting chemicals.
Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka		Prior approval or a permit for aircraft, spacecraft, and other goods of Chapter 88.
Commissioner of Ayurveda		Prior approval for Ayurveda and herbal preparations under HS 3003.90 and 3004.90.
Department of Animal Production and Health		Prior approval, inspection, or a quarantine certificate for live animals, meat and edible offal, eggs, animal feed, raw animal products, and veterinary medicaments. Hides, furs, and preserved meat of domestic animals are included. CITES-listed species are excluded.
Department of Excise		A licence, permit, or prior approval for alcoholic beverages and other excisable goods, cigarette paper, molasses, and products containing excisable articles. Waters and non-alcoholic beverages of headings 22.01, 22.02, and 2206.00.10 are left out of the general cover.
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources		Prior approval or registration for fish and fishery products and for made-up fishing nets. Fishing vessels, factory ships, and other vessels more than two years old may be restricted, as may products prohibited under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act.
Department of Wildlife Conservation		Prior approvals or permits for live non-domestic animals or meats, products or parts of non-domestic animals. Special reference to fauna and flora covered by CITES.
Director General of Health Services		Prior approval for ambulances older than three years.
Director of the National Fertilizer Secretariat		A licence for fertilizers of Chapter 31.
Food Control Administration (Food Control Authority), Ministry of Health		Inspection, and prior approval where required, for meat, fish, dairy, fruit, vegetables, cereals, spices, food-grade salt and chemicals, and other edible goods.
Homoeopathy Council		Prior approval for homoeopathy preparations under HS 3004.90.90.
Import Control Licence		The statutory schedule does not describe the goods covered. Check with the authority.
Marine Environment Protection Authority		A quantity licence, with prior approval, for sludge oil of HS 2710.19.90 shipped on or after 1 July 2025.
Ministry of Defence		Prior approval for arms and ammunition, explosives, warships, aircraft, and certain engines, copying machines, remote-controlled goods, and listed chemicals.
Ministry of Environment		Prior approval for goods containing ozone-depleting substances, including specified air-conditioner and refrigerator parts.
Ministry of Ports and Shipping		Prior approval for ships, boats, barges, and similar vessels of heading 89.01.
Ministry of Transport		The statutory schedule does not describe the goods covered. Check with the authority.
Ministry of Youth and Sports		Prior approval for yachts, pleasure or sports vessels, rowing boats, and canoes of heading 89.03 that are more than two years old.
National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency		Prior approval for made-up fishing nets of HS 5608.11.10.
National Film Corporation		A licence for cinematographic film of subheadings 37.04, 37.05, and 37.06, within the quota allocated by the exhibition board.
National Food Safety (Food Safety Unit/Division of the Ministry of Health)		The statutory schedule does not describe the goods covered. Check with the authority.
National Gem and Jewellery Authority		A certificate for rough diamonds.
National Medicines Regulatory Authority		Prior approval, registration, or a licence for human medicines, medical and surgical devices, diagnostic reagents, and pharmaceutical or hygienic articles. Veterinary medicaments and vaccines are excluded.
National Ozone Unit of Ministry of Environment		Prior approval for products containing ozone-depleting substances of subheadings 2903.39 and 2903.70 and of headings 38.13, 38.14, and 38.24.
National Plant Quarantine Service (Plant Quarantine)		A permit, with inspection where required, for raw or untreated plant material, including natural rubber, peat, natural sand, vegetable fertilizers, and goods that contain raw plant parts.
Office for the Registra of Pesticides		Prior approval, registration, or a licence for pesticides of heading 38.08 and for listed pesticide chemicals.
Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts		Prior approval for unused postage, revenue, or similar stamps of a current or new issue in heading 49.07.
Precursor Control Authority		Prior approval for precursor chemicals and for specified medicaments that contain controlled substances.
Seed Certification and Plant Protection Centre		Prior approval, a permit, or certification for seed and other products intended for sowing or planting, including HS 0801.19.20.
Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council		Prior approval or a permit for nuclear reactors, radioactive materials, ionizing-radiation equipment, and specified medicaments.
Sri Lanka Customs		Prohibited import of obscene, religiously derogatory, and lottery materials. An annual licence is also required for sludge oil of HS 2710.19.90 shipped on or after 1 July 2025.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority		An annual licence for sludge oil of HS 2710.19.90 shipped on or after 1 July 2025.
Sri Lanka Standards Institution		The statutory schedule does not describe the goods covered. Check with the authority.
Sri Lanka Tea Board		A permit for tea and tea products of heading 09.02.
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission		Prior approval for telecommunications equipment of headings 85.17, 85.25, and 85.26, and for remote-controlled toys. Two mobile phones imported for personal use or as a gift may be exempt.

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