Though 22% of all containers processed through Sri Lanka's ports in the first quarter of 2026 were referred to Other Government Agencies (OGA) for mandatory inspections, only 13% were selected for intrusive examination by Sri Lanka Customs, according to the Progress Report on Anti-Corruption Measures released by Sri Lanka Customs, Excise Department, and Inland Revenue Department for end-March.
“It is important to note that a significant portion of these referrals, specifically 22 per cent of the total containers, is due to regulatory requirements enforced by Other Government Agencies (OGAs),” the report said, referring to mandated examinations that ensure compliance with various non-Customs regulations, standards, or protocols established by such agencies.
“As a result, the percentage of containers referred for intrusive examination by Customs itself is comparatively low. According to the data, only 13 per cent of the total containers are selected for this type of detailed examination directly by Customs authorities.”
The report further noted that overall, around 35% of all containers still undergo some form of physical inspection. “Based on the selectivity data available at the end of March 2026, this percentage has been maintained at 35 per cent of the total number of containers processed.”
In December 2025 and early 2026, the Port of Colombo experienced severe container congestion, with up to 13,000 containers delayed. Sri Lanka Customs had expressed a need to review its own risk criteria for selecting cargo shipments for inspection, following congestion driven by Middle East cargo diversions and regulatory inspection backlogs.
In a Time Release Study produced by Sri Lanka Customs, the department identified the physical examination process, particularly those involving OGAs, as a key component requiring reform.
“The second pillar of trade facilitation involves making the examination process more efficient, through use of technology, such as drive-through or mobile scanners, and minimising the time taken in location and presentation of cargo for examination by Customs/OGA officers.”
It further attributed extreme delays in processing containers to a “lack of sufficient supportive documents,” as well as detentions and investigations by Sri Lanka Customs and OGA compliance actions.