Basic documents required by commercial banks for imports include an invoice, an insurance certificate (if applicable), and transportation documents. Depending on the product and mode of payment, additional certificates, such as certificates of origin, inspection certificates, and packing lists, may also be required. Air cargo shipments generally require the same documentation as sea shipments.
All shipping documents related to imports made on documents against payment (DP) or documents against acceptance (DA) terms must be forwarded by the supplier’s bank or directly by the supplier to a Sri Lankan commercial bank for release to the importer. If original documents are not received in time, the importer may, at the discretion of the bank, obtain a shipping guarantee and submit copies certified by the bank for customs clearance. The importer must arrange for the original documents to be received by the bank within 30 days of certification of the copies.
To clear goods through customs, importers must submit certified shipping documents along with customs declaration forms to the Sri Lanka Department of Customs. For imports made on an advance payment (AP) basis, goods will be released upon submission of satisfactory proof of payment, such as bank confirmation. For imports on a consignment-account basis, goods will be released upon submission of clearance documents.