Sri Lanka has made significant progress towards implementing the WTO TFA. According to the Government's assessment, only two implementation commitments remain to be completed by 2030. The National Single Window (article 10.4) and greater cooperation among border agencies (Article 8). 

As of August 2026, Sri Lanka has achieved 95.8 per cent implementation of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), well above the global average of 87.6 per cent, Treasury officials told the Sunday Observer. 

All measures notified under Categories A, B and C with implementation dates falling on or before 2027 have been completed,” the official said. Two major commitments — greater cooperation among border agencies and the establishment of a National Single Window (NSW) — remain, with completion targeted for 2030.

Main achievements of the TFA reform agenda include

• Advance ruling system including for Customs valuation
• CargoFlow, a digital system for the movement of containers in the port
• Authorised Economic Operator programme - with 75 companies receiving the status
• Post Clearance Audit Programme.

Several development partners assisted Sri Lankan authorities implementing the TFA reforms including ITC, GIZ, ADB and the WTO Secretariat (ITTC and MAD). TFAF provided an implementation grant in 2025 which is currently implemented by ITC)

The TFA reforms are part of the execution of the National Export Development Plan.  The ‘TFA Plus’ agenda targets lower costs, faster clearance and greater certainty for businesses

The Government is now moving beyond its WTO obligations through a “TFA Plus” program aimed at reducing the cost and time involved in importing and exporting while making international trade more predictable for businesses. “This helps improve Sri Lanka’s integration into regional and global value chains,” the officials said. The National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC), chaired through the Ministry of Finance and comprising Sri Lanka Customs, the Department of Commerce, 12 Government agencies and seven national trade chambers, is overseeing the reforms, a Treasury official said.

The Treasury said the remaining reforms, particularly the National Single Window, would require coordination among several Government agencies, legislative changes and phased investment.

The Government, through Sri Lanka Customs and the NTFC, plans to continue implementing its remaining WTO commitments while expanding the “TFA Plus” program to further reduce barriers to international trade.