News

Lankans will have to pay more to send postal packages to EU member countries

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Following imposition of revised tax policy

by Suresh Perera

With the European Union (EU) revising its tariff regime on postal shipments with effect from July 1, all postal packages up to EUR 150 (approximately Rs. 35,500) in market value mailed from Sri Lanka to any of the 27 member countries in the economic and political grouping will be subject to direct Value Added Tax (VAT).

The new tax policy will not be applicable to letters sent to EU member states, Post Master General (PMG) Ranjith Ariyaratne clarified.

However, postal customers, online sellers and marketplaces, which send items within the specified EUR 150 value will be liable to VAT, he said.

Postal goods that exceed the stated value will be subjected to other customs regulations as determined by the relevant government in addition to the VAT policy of the EU member country, the PMG explained.

He said that all applicable customs duties on postal items exceeding EUR 150 in value will be charged from the recipient of postal item/items at the destination.

Asked how the VAT component could be paid directly to the EU member country concerned, Ariyaratne said the payment can be done by registering online.

Customers can obtain all information about the tax policies, payment options and the procedures to be followed in terms of the relevant laws and regulations by accessing the relevant web links. (See below)

He said that customers should be aware of these policies, regulations and updates by referring to the web links before handing over their items to postal counters for onward delivery.

Asked on what basis the values on postal packages are calculated for taxation, the PMG said there is a variance depending on the category.

“The tax is applicable even to a personal gift item sent from Sri Lanka to a person living in any EU member country”.

All postal customers, including online retailers and online marketplaces, are required to provide the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) ID Number with the parcel/postal item at the post office counter, to ensure smooth customs clearance and timely delivery of the goods to the destination.

In the event of non-compliance with applicable tax policies, the destination country reserves the right to add relevant taxes including VAT and other import tariffs. In addition, the recipient may have to pay an extra clearance fee according to the import rules and regulations of the destination country.

Additional charges at the time of import may cause the customer to refuse the goods. The customer is responsible for any further action taken by the Postal Administration or the Customs in respect of the relevant product.

The Sri Lanka Postal Department is not responsible for the imposition and collection of VAT or any other tax levied by the EU countries, the PMG stressed.

More information on the revised EU tax policy can be obtained by visiting the following web links:

https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/taxation/vat/vat-rules-rates/index_en.htm

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/union-customs-code/ucc-introduction_en

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/union-customs-code/ucc-legislation_en

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/vat/vat-e-commerce_en

https://ec.europa.eu/vat-ecommerc

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Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka pays courtesy call on PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.

The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Location of the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal Sea area

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026

Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.

The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.

The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

News

Canada concerned about delay in holding PC polls

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin shaking hands with Minister Abayaratne

Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.

Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.

India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.

Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.

During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.

In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.

The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.

In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.

The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.

by Shamindra Ferdinando