Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs.217.9 billion in May, exceeding the monthly target of Rs.187.8 billion by 16 percent, official data showed, EconomyNext reported on Wednesday.
Cumulative revenue for the first five months of 2026 reached Rs.1,143.7 billion, beating the period target by 44 percent and lifting collections to 51.8 percent of the Rs.2,207 billion full-year goal. The annual target was set 13.5 percent below the 2025 outturn to reflect an expected decline in car imports as duty schedules normalise. Customs collected a record Rs.2,551 billion in 2025, surpassing a revised Rs.2,241 billion target and running 64.2 percent above 2024 receipts.
Officials cited stronger enforcement, improved valuation practices and a rebound in import volumes after years of contraction. Imports fell sharply after the 2022 economic crisis when authorities imposed restrictions to conserve foreign exchange, but stabilised reserves, the relaxation of certain controls and a steady recovery in consumer demand have since fed import duties, excise and other levies. Tighter monitoring of under-invoicing and misdeclaration has also added to receipts.
The final May figure confirms the streak first signalled when the agency hit Rs.100.1 billion in the first 26 days of the month, and extends a run that began in January and includes the Rs.236.5 billion monthly record set in April. Customs has been one of the Treasury’s most reliable revenue sources this year, providing a fiscal cushion as the government tracks targets under the IMF-supported programme.
Source: EconomyNext.
