Announcement

Urgent Notice to All Exporters from the Department of Commerce

Summary

In order to facilitate exports, the Department of Commerce (DOC) will be open from 20th March 2020.  However, because of the prevailing situation in the country due to the fast-spreading corona virus, the Department will be operating with only a skeleton staff.

Updated on : 26-03-2020

Department of commerce

Urgent Notice to All Exporters

In order to facilitate exports, the Department of Commerce (DOC) will be open from 20^th March 2020.  However, because of the prevailing situation in the country due to the fast-spreading corona virus, the Department will be operating with only a skeleton staff.  Therefore, all exporters are kindly requested to take note of the following:

1. Office hours will be from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
2. Services will be limited to issuance of Certificates of Origin (COO) and Tariff Rate Quota Certificates (TRQC) for urgent shipments.  All other services such as company registration, processing of cost statements, residence visa, etc., will be suspended till offices reopen as normal after the special holidays declared by the Government.
3. Exporters are requested to make the necessary payments for their COOs and TRQCs (calculated in the following manner) prior to submitting their documents to the DOC and submit the original receipt issued by the bank along with a copy.  The DOC will issue official receipts for all payments after the office reopens as normal.

           COO                 New COO       : Rs. 1,000.00 x  no. of COO

                                    Duplicate         : Rs. 1,000.00 x  no. of duplicates

                                    Certified copy  :Rs.    500.00 x  no. of copies

           TRQCs                                     :Rs     500.00 x  no. of TRQCs

 

4. All payments have to be made to the following bank account through any branch of the People’s Bank or an ATM.

           Account No.: 014100129027293

          Account Name: Director General of Commerce

5. In the event of any COOs / TRQCs being rejected, the payments made for them will be set off against future COOs / TRQCs.  Exporters are, therefore, requested to keep copies of their bank receipts and details of the submitted documents.
6. For the safety of all visitors and staff of the DOC, exporters are kindly requested to adhere to the following:   

           a) Take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus

               Hand washing facilities are available at the entrance to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation premises

               Please limit contact with staff and other visitors

               Please wear precautionary clothing where possible

         b) Register in the visitor log of the Department of Commerce

 

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

 

Department of Commerce

Colombo – 20.03.2020