The Government Information Center

Ministry of Finance
Sri Lanka Customs Department

Gifts received from a Foreign Country Through Mail (Sea/air/EMS)

• The gifts received by post and released by Customs for home delivery will be delivered to you by the normal Postal service.
• Gifts selected for customs examination are retained at the respective post office. You will be notified by the Postal Department to be present for the examination.
  
• If you are unable to be present, you can nominate a person and authorize him to act on behalf of you.
  
• The Personal items valued less than Rs.15,000.00 are released from customs Duty and VAT. This facility is not given for the items in commercial quantity or Commercial nature and restricted or prohibited items. An Individual can obtain this facility only once in 6 months.
  
• The items valued more than Rs.15,000.00 are subjected to customs duty and other levies , and commercial quantities will be charged with customs duty and other levies too on a declaration by the owner.
  
• Prohibited items will be forfeited and the restricted items will only be released on a license.
  

Some restricted Items require permission from following Statutory Authorities.

• Import & Export Control Department (Import Control License)
• Sri Lanka Standard Institute(SLSI)
  
• Telecommunication Regulatory Commission(TRC)
  
• Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Authority(CDDA)
  
• Ministry of Defence(MoD)
  
• Food Department
  
• Plant/Animal Quarantine Services, etc.,