🚢 NTFF Urges Customs to Reconsider ICT Fee & Penalties

• Overall Compliance Cost Surge: The National Trade Facilitation Forum (NTFF) has appealed to Sri Lanka Customs regarding the new monthly ICT fee of Rs. 5,000 (Rs. 60,000/year) for 833 DGMS-registered maritime & logistics manifest reporters, effective 1 July 2026. • Financial Impact: Combined with the existing Rs. 12,000 annual licence fee, total fixed compliance costs for the shipping & logistics sector jump 6-fold from ~Rs. 10 Mn to ~Rs. 60 Mn annually—an added ~Rs. 50 Mn per annum burden with no transition period. • Non-Recoverable Overhead: Applied under the mandatory ASYHUB system, the flat charge cannot be recovered as a disbursement due to lack of valid Customs receipts, burdening service providers as a direct overhead and raising landed import costs. • Manifest Amendment Penalties: Existing penalties reach up to Rs. 100,000 per amendment based on 2013 rules. NTFF urges adoption of the 2018 joint-association proposal to cap major post-registration penalties at Rs. 25,000. • Key Proposals to Customs: • Transition from a flat fee to a fair per-manifest/per-transaction charge aligned with WTO TFA cost-of-service principles. • Issue official receipts to enable cost recovery from shippers and consignees. • Implement the reduced 2018 manifest amendment penalty framework and consult trade associations before future changes.