Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra says discussions have commenced on introducing improved duty-free allowance facilities for Sri Lankans employed overseas, with the aim of providing greater benefits to migrant workers.
A high-level meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 14, chaired by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, to review possible improvements to the existing duty-free allowance system.
According to Deputy Minister Hemachandra, the discussions focused on simplifying customs procedures, introducing a mechanism to link duty-free benefits with official remittance records, expanding access to loan facilities, and strengthening cooperation among key institutions including the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Customs, commercial banks, and Lanka Remit.
He stated that the proposed measures are intended to recognize the contribution of overseas Sri Lankan workers and ensure duty-free benefits are delivered through a more accessible, transparent, and efficient system.
