E-license programme to be introduced at Import and Export Control Dept.

The Cabinet green light has been granted to promptly implement an e-license programme at the Import and Export Control Department with a US$ 280,000 grant from the United States.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies on Monday sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to roll out the e-license programme in the Import and Export Control Department by systematising the licensing process with the participation of regulatory agencies including Sri Lanka Customs, Excise Department, Department of Motor Traffic, Sri Lanka Board of Investment, National Medicines Regulatory Authority and Sri Lanka Standards Institution.

The Department of Government Information noted that the Export Control and Border Security Programme operating under the United States Embassy stepped forward to provide the information technology programme ‘STRATLINK’ worth US$ 280,000 along with the complete source code to the Department of Import and Export Control as a grant. The Import and Export Control Department issues approximately 17,000 license per annum. 
“This process is mostly done with human intervention and minimal use of technology. In order to minimise human intervention and make this process more efficient, it has been found necessary to introduce information technology to the process,” the Department of Government Information noted.