The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the import of retreaded aircraft tyres under strict conditions, reversing a blanket ban imposed under the Special Import Licence Regulations No. 01 of 2023, the Daily FT reported.
The exemption, sought by the Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry, applies specifically to retreaded aircraft tyres classified under HS Code 4012.13. It is intended to ease operational and cost pressures on SriLankan Airlines and other carriers operating international services from Sri Lanka.
Cabinet also approved submitting the Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 01 of 2026 to Parliament for approval, formalising the carve-out.
Imports will be permitted only where the tyres comply with standards set by internationally recognised aviation authorities and are sourced through formal supply agreements with certified global suppliers. The relief is restricted to Sri Lankan airline operators engaged in international services.
Retreaded aircraft tyres — worn tyres refurbished with a new tread — are widely used by commercial carriers globally under strict airworthiness regimes because they cost a fraction of new tyres while meeting the same safety standards. The 2023 licence regime had effectively barred their use in Sri Lanka, pushing carriers toward more expensive new tyres.
The approval comes as SriLankan Airlines is under pressure to cut operating costs, with a four-candidate CEO shortlist recently reported and airfares rising sharply on key routes because of the Gulf crisis. The government said the new framework maintains safety oversight while removing what had become an unnecessary cost burden on the national carrier.
