Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs. 260.6 billion in July against a monthly target of Rs. 192.4 billion, exceeding it by about 35.5 percent, official data showed.
Revenue over the first seven months of 2026 reached Rs. 1,639.7 billion, running roughly 33.1 percent ahead of the same period last year and beating the cumulative target for the period by 30.9 percent.
That leaves the department at 74.3 percent of its full-year goal with five months of the year still to run.
A conservative target
Customs has set a revenue target of Rs. 2,207 billion for 2026 — some 13.5 percent below what it actually collected last year, on the expectation that vehicle imports would fall away significantly.
Last year the department brought in a record Rs. 2,551 billion, overshooting a revised target of Rs. 2,241 billion and coming in 64.2 percent above the previous year’s Rs. 1,553 billion.
On the current run rate, collections are tracking well ahead of a target that was deliberately set low.
What is driving the increase
EconomyNext attributed the rise to stronger enforcement, improved valuation practices and a rebound in import volumes after years of contraction.
Imports fell sharply after the 2022 economic crisis, when the country restricted them to conserve foreign exchange. With reserves stabilised, some import controls relaxed and consumer demand recovering, receipts from import duties, excise and other levies have climbed.
Officials cited tighter monitoring of under-invoicing and misdeclaration of goods as a further contributor. The combination has made Customs one of the Treasury’s larger revenue sources as the government works to meet fiscal targets under its IMF-supported programme.
Note on the figures: EconomyNext’s report gives the July overshoot as 35.4 percent in one line and 35.5 percent in another. Both are roundings of the same calculation — Rs. 260.6 billion against Rs. 192.4 billion is 35.45 percent above target.