World Bank backs Sri Lanka’s Customs modernisation reforms
- CNL Reporter
- August 24, 2025
- News, Political
- World Bank
- 0 Comments
Sri Lanka’s efforts to overhaul its revenue administration received a boost this week with the World Bank pledging technical and institutional support for the government’s ongoing Customs Modernisation Programme. The discussions took place between representatives of the World Bank and officials of the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernization Bureau (RARB), which has been tasked with spearheading reforms in the country’s key tax and revenue agencies.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the World Bank team assured its readiness to provide “international institutional support and expert guidance” to ensure the programme’s success. Officials also discussed revisions to the outdated Customs Ordinance, which has been in operation for over a century and is widely seen as a barrier to efficient trade facilitation and revenue collection.
The Customs Modernisation Programme is part of Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline, reduce leakages, and improve trade competitiveness, particularly as the country works to stabilize its economy under IMF and multilateral support.
The RARB, established earlier this year, plays a central role in identifying the policy and strategic changes required in the Sri Lanka Customs, Inland Revenue Department, and Excise Department—the three largest sources of government revenue. By streamlining processes, improving compliance, and embracing digital technologies, authorities hope to raise state revenue while minimizing corruption and inefficiencies.
The World Bank’s collaboration is expected to provide technical expertise and global best practices that could help transform Sri Lanka’s revenue administration into a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly system.
