Communication Owners slam import ban

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Chairman of All Ceylon Communication Owners Association warns that the recent import suspension has posed an obstacle to importing mobile devices to Sri Lanka.

The Chairman of the Lanka Communication Owners Association Indrajith Perera told News 1st that all mobile devices and accessories have to be imported as none of those items are manufactured in Sri Lanka.

He said that suspending the imports of such products would definitely threaten the lives of those involved in the mobile phone industry.

Sri Lanka tightened import restrictions with a ban on more than 300 additional items, as an economic crisis that has created months of shortages and toppled a president refuses to abate.

Signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister, the gazette was issued under the Import and Export Control Act.

The list of items included cosmetics, electrical goods, water craft, ships, aircraft, electrical and electronic goods and building materials. It also included chocolate and other food products such as cocoa, condensed milk, yoghurt, coconuts, coconut-based arrack, roses, perfumes, beauty or make-up products, deodorants, shampoos and dental floss, trunks, suitcases, briefcases, and various clothing items.

The building materials, which are banned for export by the Finance Ministry includes, marble, travertine, and other calcareous monumental or building stone, tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings.

The list also included bags, bottle cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases, toilet or facial tissue stock, towel or napkin stock and electrical goods such as refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment, electric or other heat pumps.

However, the goods in the suspended list which were shipped on or before August 23 and arrived at any sea ports or airports in Sri Lanka on or before September 14 would be allowed for customs clearance.