Colombo, 3 September 2026 – As part of its efforts to strengthen direct engagement with the exporting community and improve the efficiency and transparency of services relating to the issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoOs), the Department of Commerce (DoC) has launched a new initiative through its Internal Affairs Unit (IAU).

Under this initiative, exporters are provided with an opportunity to raise queries, concerns and complaints relating to the issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoOs) through a virtual meeting held on the first Wednesday of each month.

The inaugural virtual session was held on 2 September 2026 from 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m., with more than 100 participants actively participating in the session. The high level of participation demonstrates the strong interest of the exporting community in engaging directly with DoC and obtaining clarification on matters relating to the issuance of CoOs.

During the inaugural session, DoC also briefed participants on several digital enhancements planned for the Certificate of Origin issuance process.

These planned enhancements include the integration of the eCoO system with GovPay, enabling more convenient and efficient online payments. DoC is also working towards Application Programming Interface (API) connectivity with the Sri Lanka Customs ASYCUDA system, which will facilitate the electronic exchange and verification of relevant export information.

In addition, an API interface is planned to be made available for integration with exporters’ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This will enable relevant information to be transmitted directly between exporters’ systems and the DoC eCoO platform, reducing manual data entry and duplication of information.

These system integrations are expected to reduce processing time by approximately 60 percent, while also minimizing the possibility of human errors arising from repeated manual data entry.

DoC further announced that the remaining Certificate of Origin schemes, including GSP and GSTP, are expected to be brought into the electronic Certificate of Origin (eCoO) system after obtaining consent from the relevant countries. With the implementation of these enhancements, DoC will be better positioned to integrate its Certificate of Origin services with the proposed National Single Window system, further contributing to the digitalization and facilitation of Sri Lanka’s international trade processes.

DoC will continue to engage with the exporting community through the “Ask the DoC” initiative and welcomes the active participation of exporters in raising issues, providing feedback and contributing to the continuous improvement of its services.

Sri Lanka has achieved a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral agricultural trade with Pakistan by completing the technical and phytosanitary requirements necessary for the export of fresh Sri Lankan pineapples to the Pakistani market.

Following several years of sustained technical discussions and regulatory engagement, the Governments of Sri Lanka and Pakistan have finalized the phytosanitary import conditions, paving the way for the entry of fresh Sri Lankan pineapples into Pakistan.

The initiative was spearheaded by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi in close collaboration with the National Plant Quarantine Service of Sri Lanka and the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Pakistan, with the support of the Department of Commerce, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).

During the recent visit of a Pakistani business delegation to Sri Lanka, the Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development instructed the relevant authorities to expedite market access for Sri Lankan pineapples, avocados, and king coconuts. As a result, priority attention was given to facilitating pineapple exports, while discussions on securing market access for avocados, king coconuts, and other agricultural products will continue between the relevant authorities of the two countries.

As part of the market access process, the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Pakistan dispatched a technical expert to Sri Lanka in July 2026 to inspect pineapple production areas and plant quarantine systems. Following the successful completion of the inspection, the NPPO finalized the phytosanitary import requirements and export facilitation guidelines, enabling Sri Lankan exporters to access the Pakistani market.

The initiative also received valuable support from the All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo, whose cooperation played an important role in facilitating this bilateral trade initiative.

Pakistan represents a promising market for Sri Lankan fresh fruits, particularly premium-quality pineapples. With growing consumer demand for tropical fruits, Sri Lanka expects commercial exports to commence in the near future, creating new opportunities for growers, exporters, and traders in both countries.

This achievement marks another important milestone in strengthening agricultural cooperation and bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It also contributes to the diversification of export markets for Sri Lankan agricultural products while providing Pakistani consumers with greater access to high-quality tropical produce.