The 4th Meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, Investment and the Auto Sector between Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Sri Lanka Strengthens Trade and Investment Ties with China at China–South Asia Exposition 2026
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞 – 𝗔 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆” 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸
Anuga Select India - 2026
Notice to All Importers of Basmathi Rice Under the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA)
Department of Commerce Conducts Regional Awareness Seminar for SMEs in the Matara District
Consultative Meeting on Trade Promotion held on 17.02.2026
The 13th Session of the Sri Lanka - Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and the 8th Session of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Commerce Secretary Level Talks
National Training on Trade Remedies Successfully Concluded at the Department of Commerce
UK DCTS Rules of Origin Reform Strengthens Apparel Market Access for Enhanced Preference Countries Including Sri Lanka
Department of Commerce Holds Religious Observances to Commence the New Year 2026
Department of Commerce Contributes Rs. 600,000 to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

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Recommendation of Residence Visa
REX System

Issuance of Certificate of Origin

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Vision

“Raising living standards of the people through international trade relations”

Mission

“To develop and promote Sri Lanka’s foreign trade relations at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels by the effective implementation of government trade policy, with a view to raising the standards of living and realizing a higher quality of life through the increase of total production, income and employment levels, thereby actively contributing to the overall economic growth of Sri Lanka.”

Department of Commerce

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Sufficiently worked or processed products

Affidavit

Note: Affidavits for spices should be for each shipment and contain additional details as per Note 1 of the general affidavit format

Cost Statement

Documents needed to be submitted together with the cost statement to verify

  • Import CUSDEC
  • Import Invoice
  • Products Eligible Under SAARC Cumulation
    GSP Form A issued by imported SAARC country
  • Products Eligible Under EU Cumulation
  • EUR1 Form or invoice declaration issued by EU authorities
Material Sheet

Apparel manufactured by using local fabric

Documents needed to be submitted to verify the imported raw materials

  • Local fabric CUSDEC
  • Invoice

Apparel manufactured by using EU fabric

  • Material Sheet format for EU fabric
  • Documents needed to be submitted to verify the imported  raw materials
  • CUSDEC for imported fabric
  • Invoice
  • EUR1

Product eligible under change of tariff heading criteria 

Documents needed to be submitted to verify the imported  raw materials

  • CUSDEC for imported raw materials
  • Invoice for imported raw materials

 

Fees

 

Certificate of Origin - Rs.1500.00
Extra Copy of Certificate of Origin - Rs.750.00
Duplicate Certificate of Origin - Rs.1500.00
True Copy of Certificate of Origin - Rs.500.00

 

Service providing time

 

Time of Submission for Certificate of Origin -  8.30 AM - 3.00 PM
Time of Issuance of Certificate of Origin -  9.00 AM - 12.30 PM

 

Click here to Apply Online (E-Service for Issuance of Certificate of Origin)

 

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Click here to view A Guide for users on GSP rules of origin

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The central pillar of the multilateral rule-based trading system enshrined in the GATT/WTO is the acceptance and operation of the Most Favoured Nation principle. This means that every member of GATT/WTO should invariably accord the same, identical, equal and non-discriminatory treatment to all imports irrespective of the countries of origin.

However, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is an officially agreed exception to the MFN principle which was proposed at the first meeting of the United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with a view to assisting the developing countries in their exports and development efforts. In 1964, the First United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) started to look into ways and means of granting special trade preferences to developing countries.

Main objectives of granting trade preferences to developing countries were :

  • To enhance export earnings of developing countries.
  • To promote industrialization, and
  • To encourage the diversification of their economies.

In 1968, UNCTAD recommended the creation of a "Generalized System of Tariff Preferences" under which industrialized countries would grant autonomous trade preferences to all developing countries.

In order to implement the system a waiver was required from Article 1 of the GATT which prohibits discrimination. This waiver was granted in 1971 by adopting the "enabling clause" of the GATT to create the legal framework for the "Generalized System of Tariff Preferences" (GSP). Under this framework developed countries were authorized to establish individual Generalized Schemes of Tariff Preferences.

The enabling clause was adopted originally for ten years, and renewed in 1979, for an indefinite period of time thereafter.

Countries that Extend GSP Benefits

Australia
Belarus
Canada
EU*
Japan
Norway
New Zealand
Russian Federation
Switzerland
Turkey
USA		 * EU Member States
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Germany
Greece
Finland
France
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland

 Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom