Economy

Special Gazette issued introducing mandatory labeling rules for soaps

Published

2 months ago

July 17, 2026

Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority has introduced mandatory labeling requirements for all covered categories of soap, requiring businesses to disclose the product name and its Total Fatty Matter, or TFM, percentage on the packaging.

The requirements are contained in Direction No. 100, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2496/39 dated July 10, 2026. The direction, issued under Section 10(1)(a) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 9 of 2003, will take effect on July 9, 2027.

The measure follows the introduction of numerous soap brands into the domestic market and concerns that some of these brands do not disclose their ingredients or the correct TFM content. While several long-established brands already provide the relevant information, concerns have been raised that some products do not display all prescribed details in the proper manner or disclose all ingredients.

Under this direction, importers, manufacturers, store owners, distributors and traders will not be permitted to import, manufacture, store, distribute, sell, display or offer the covered products for sale unless the required information is printed on the package or label.

The gazette says, “Name of the product as specified in the schedule shall be printed in bold type in all three languages of Sinhala, Tamil and English or, in two of those three languages on the main panel and the other language on any panel.”

It also says, “Total Fatty Matter (TFM) percentage by mass shall be printed on the product label clearly and conspicuously in a bold font size of not less than 2 millimeters (2mm) when packed.”

The gazette schedule lists the covered products as “Baby Soap,” “Toilet Soap,” “Shaving Soap,” “Carbolic Soap,” “Laundry Soap,” “Bathing Bar” and “Soft Soap.” Their respective standards are SLS 547, SLS 34, SLS 36, SLS 35, SLS 554, SLS 1220 and SLS 37. The direction was issued by order of the Consumer Affairs Authority and signed by S. M. D. Suriyakumara, Chairman (Acting).

Economy

Vehicle imports generate Rs. 512.5 billion in tax revenue

Published

1 day ago

September 8, 2026

admin

Sri Lanka imported 316,000 vehicles during the first six months of 2026, generating Rs. 512.547 billion in tax revenue, according to officials from Sri Lanka Customs.

The figures were revealed during a review of the operations and revenue performance of Sri Lanka Customs by the Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means.

Of the total tax revenue generated through vehicle imports, motor vehicles imports accounted for the largest share, contributing Rs. 386.726 billion.

Petrol-powered cars with engine capacities below 1,000cc emerged as the highest revenue-generating category, contributing Rs. 137.4 billion in Customs revenue. This represented 9.96% of total Customs revenue.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Customs recorded total revenue of Rs. 1.379 trillion by June 30, 2026, against an expected revenue of Rs. 1.061 trillion for the period, representing 130% of the targeted revenue.

Officials informed the committee that customs revenue had exceeded monthly targets throughout the year and had recorded higher revenue compared with the corresponding months of 2025.

Economy

Rs. 5.8bn World Bank-backed project to rehabilitate 296 irrigation tanks

Published

3 days ago

September 6, 2026

admin

Sri Lanka has begun rehabilitating 296 minor irrigation tanks under a World Bank-funded programme aimed at strengthening irrigation infrastructure and improving climate resilience.

More than Rs. 5.8 billion has been allocated for the work under the Integrated Rurban Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP), which is planned to continue until 2029.

Of the 296 tanks, 290 are located across 18 districts and were damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. About Rs. 5.58 billion has been allocated for their rehabilitation under the project’s Contingent Emergency Response Component.

The largest number of affected tanks is in Badulla, where 97 are being rehabilitated, followed by Ratnapura with 29, Mannar with 24 and Kurunegala with 19. Fifteen tanks each are being rehabilitated in Kandy and Vavuniya.

A further six minor irrigation tanks in Polonnaruwa, Hambantota and Jaffna are also being rehabilitated at a cost of about Rs. 256.2 million.

Economy

Sri Lanka exports to India grow 7.2% to USD 669mn in first seven months

Published

5 days ago

September 4, 2026

admin

Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports to India increased by 7.22% year-on-year during the first seven months of 2026, reaching US$669.36 million, according to data from the Export Development Board (EDB).

Exports to India during the January-July period rose from US$624.31 million recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.

In July alone, exports to India increased by 9.12% year-on-year to US$129.51 million, compared with US$118.69 million in July 2025.

The EDB said the cumulative growth in exports to India was mainly supported by increased shipments of boilers, piston engines, pumps and vacuum pumps, petroleum oils, animal feed and base metal products.

The growth also came amid a broader expansion in Sri Lanka’s exports to the South Asian region.

Exports to South Asian markets increased by 11.98% year-on-year to US$916.55 million during the January-July 2026 period.