Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on more items

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka lifted the import restrictions on 10 items with effect from Tuesday, a state minister said.

State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said among the 10 items are energy drinks, MDF boards used to produce furniture, CCTV cameras and a number of sporting goods.

He added that the decision to remove the restrictions on sports goods was taken based on a request by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

The Sri Lankan government imposed restrictions on the import of 1,465 items in August but has lifted restrictions on 795 items on three separate occasions including the latest one.

The state minister said Sri Lanka’s import bill for 2021 was 20.6 billion U.S. dollars and that the number will be a lot less due to import restrictions.

He said the government will decide when restrictions on other items could be lifted in consideration of the economic situation.

-Xinhua