🚨 Border Delays Act as Domestic Non-Tariff Barriers for Sri Lanka's Exports

• Overview: Domestic border delays, excess documentation, and inefficient clearance procedures are creating hidden costs for exporters, threatening the global competitiveness of Sri Lanka's apparel & textiles, tea, and other key sectors. • Competitor Gap: Sri Lanka's UN Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation Survey index rose from 43.01% (2015) to 63.44% (2025). However, key regional competitors outpace Sri Lanka significantly in 2025: • India: 93.55% • Malaysia: 90.32% • Thailand: 88.17% • Vietnam: 77.42% • Key Issues Identified: • Redundant paper submissions across multiple state bodies despite digital steps like Customs' pilot paperless CusDec program. • Incomplete operationalization of pre-arrival processing, risk management, and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) systems. • Infrastructure bottlenecks, physical examination delays, and lack of advance notice for new regulatory changes. • Proposed Solutions & Roadmap: • Next 6–12 Months: Deploy a public clearance time dashboard, scale pre-arrival processing, simplify AEO enrollment, and enforce single-submission documentation. • By 2027: Fully realize OneTRADE/TNSW benefits by redesigning workflows across 18 connected institutions. • By 2030: Leverage the single window to establish cross-border electronic document exchanges and mutual AEO recognition with global trading partners.