Sri Lanka rolls out ‘One TRADE’ single window portal for tea and coconut exports
EconomyNext: Sri Lanka has launched a digital platform named “One TRADE” as the national single window for cross-border trade transactions, giving legal effect to electronic documentation across key export and import processes.
The One TRADE platform serves as a single electronic entry point for traders to submit, receive, and process applications, declarations, and data required by border authorities. Under the gazette, documents and communications processed through the portal are granted full legal validity.
The regulations were enacted under the Electronic Transactions Act through an extraordinary gazette issued on November 4. The rules took effect from November 5.
“These Regulations may be cited as the ‘Electronic Transactions (National Single Window for Trade) Regulations, No. 1 of 2026’,” the gazette stated.
GovTech Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd has been designated as the authorized operator of the system.
The initial rollout applies to the import, export, and transshipment of 124 tariff lines, with an immediate focus on Sri Lanka’s key agricultural exports including Ceylon tea, fresh and processed coconuts, copra, coir products, and arrack.
Participating border regulatory agencies include Sri Lanka Customs, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Coconut Development Authority, the National Plant Quarantine Service under the Department of Agriculture, and the Food Control Administration Unit of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media.
Agencies are empowered to process, approve, or reject submissions directly via the digital channel within their existing legal powers.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is positioning itself as a more competitive regional trade and investment destination, with the introduction of digital trade facilitation systems creating new business/investment opportunities for foreign businesses in logistics, technology, export services and international commerce. The launch of the One TRADE national single-window platform marks an important step towards modernising the country’s import and export processes. By providing a single electronic entry point for trade documentation and regulatory approvals, the system is expected to reduce administrative delays, improve transparency and lower transaction costs for businesses. The platform, which grants legal recognition to electronic trade documents, initially covers 124 tariff lines, including key agricultural exports such as Ceylon tea, coconut products, coir products and arrack. Its expansion could improve cross-border trade efficiency and strengthen Sri Lanka’s appeal to international trading companies. For foreign businesses/investors, opportunities extend beyond conventional import-export operations. Digital trade infrastructure, customs technology, electronic documentation, supply-chain management and trade-financing services offer potential for technology providers and international service companies. Sri Lanka’s strategic location along major Indian Ocean shipping routes also creates opportunities in port-related services, warehousing, freight forwarding, distribution and logistics. Investment in modern storage facilities, container handling, cargo tracking and integrated supply-chain solutions could support the country’s ambition to become a regional trading and distribution hub. There is also potential for foreign companies to establish export-oriented ventures and partnerships with local producers, particularly in agricultural processing, value-added manufacturing and international marketing. As Sri Lanka advances its trade digitalisation agenda, improvements in regulatory efficiency, infrastructure and market connectivity could make the country increasingly attractive to foreign businesses seeking access to South Asian and wider international markets.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20261109Z_2 |