Jan 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka has been able to save US$ 2,500 million during the period from first the date of suspension of imports till now, State Minister of Finance Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

The State Minister said that due to this measure, essential materials such as fuel, medicines and fertilizers are being imported without shortage.

The State Minister stated this addressing the event to mark the International Customs Day held at the Sri Lanka Customs Headquarters on Thursday (26).

“Sri Lanka Customs have achieved its revenue targets even amidst the economic crisis and it should be admired. The decision to ban the import of nearly 1,465 items was the most difficult decision we had to take. However, we have lifted the ban on several items and the ban is effective on 685 items further.”

The Minister said Sri Lanka not only imported the essentials, but also the unessential things and only by banning importation of such items Sri Lankan was able to save US$ 2, 500 million.

Mr. Siyambalapitiya said he doesn’t expect another year as economically difficult as 2022 in this country. That was also the most difficult year since Independence.

He pointed out that however, some people are working in a way that has forgotten the sufferings of the year 2022, which passed in the middle of economic and political crises.

“We can’t move forward by forgetting the era when the people were in long queues”, he stressed.