Cigarette imports strictly banned for passengers arriving in SL

The Ministry of Finance, in a press release issued today, stated that the importation of cigarettes by any passenger arriving in Sri Lanka from overseas is strictly prohibited.

Accordingly, over the past four months, a total of 2,032,804 foreign cigarettes illegally brought into the country by passengers arriving through Bandaranaike International Airport were destroyed today at the Kerawalapitiya Waste-to-Energy Power Plant, under the leadership of Sri Lanka Customs.

The market value of the seized foreign cigarettes is estimated at Rs. 305 million, while the potential tax revenue loss to the government, had these cigarettes entered the local market, is estimated at Rs. 271 million.

The destruction of the cigarette stock was carried out under the supervision of officials from the security divisions of Bandaranaike International Airport, together with Sri Lanka Customs Media Spokesman and Director of Customs, Chandana Punchihewa, and other senior Customs officers.