Oct 16, 2011 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority aims to have a long-delayed online billing system ready by January 2012 with the customs already ready with an electronic payment portal having done test runs. He requested the trade to use parts of the system which were now operational such as filing ‘CusDec’ or customs declaration documents which will be extended to all areas soon.
With the new system clients should be able to do many documentation processes via the internet, including payments, he said.
Payments could be made online from any part of the island as the system would be web based.
State-owned Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has been working with customs and SLPA upgrading their financial software.
BOC is the first bank to introduce the e-portal with customs which will be extended to other banks.
Shippers’ Academy chief executive Rohan Masakorala said the long-overdue electronic payment system would help the local trading community reduce costs.
He said he hopes the country could have full automation within the next 12-24 months in all areas of trade facilitation by linking the other departments and ministries.
This would certainly help our international logis