Thu, Jan 08, 2026

News

Sri Lanka Advances Trade Modernization: Key Validation Workshop Held for the Trade National Single Window Legal & Regulatory Framework

In accelerating the transformation in the nation’s trade landscape, the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Trade National Single Window System (TNSWS), in collaboration with the World Bank Group (WBG), successfully conducted a validation workshop on the Legal & Regulatory Gap Analysis at the Courtyard by Marriott, Colombo 02.

The session focused on a comprehensive Legal and Regulatory Gap Analysis, a critical pillar in establishing a seamless, transparent, and efficient trade environment in Sri Lanka.

A Vision for Global Competitiveness

The National Single Window is a transformative commitment to the business community. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, this flagship initiative aims to overhaul the country’s trade ecosystem by replacing complexity with digital efficiency. By streamlining cross-border processes, the TNSWS is set to significantly lower the cost of doing business and sharpen Sri Lanka’s competitive edge in the global market.

Collaborative Governance in Action

The workshop saw a gathering of over 75 stakeholders, reflecting the project’s interdisciplinary nature. Participants included the Additional Secretaries of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC), Officials from the Department of Trade and Investment Policy (DTIP), Heads of Government Agencies and their Legal Officers, Representatives from Private Sector Chambers, Trade Associations, Donor Agencies, the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Consultants from the World Bank Group (WBG).

Opening the event, Mr. Manjula Hettiarachchi, the Director General of the DTIP, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the project’s strategic importance as a national milestone.

From Research to Reality

The workshop marks the culmination of an intensive phase of technical assistance provided by the World Bank Group. Following an initial kickoff in November 2025, a dedicated Legal Sub-Committee from the WBG conducted exhaustive desk research into existing laws and regulations. This was followed by deep-dive consultations led by Mr. M.M.M. Rishafy (Senior Consultant, Trade Facilitation, WBG) and Dr. Issadeen, Adam Bawa (Coordinated Border Process Management Specialist, PIU) with legal officials across all stakeholder agencies.

During the session, the WBG presented the draft report on "Legal Impediments, Gaps & Recommendations." The findings were put to the floor for validation, sparking active group discussions and presentations from government and private sector representatives alike.

Further, the representatives from the ICTA presented the current capabilities of the GovPay ecosystem, emphasizing its role as a unified payment hub. By connecting financial institutions, organizations, and merchant networks, GovPay facilitates a versatile digital infrastructure. This integration allows for seamless government payments across multiple platforms, significantly enhancing the ease of doing business within the TNSWS framework.

The Path Ahead

The TNSWS, PIU’s Project Director, Mr. Neelakanth Wanninayake, ending a very successful and a highly engaged workshop, highlighted that the validation process ensures that the transition to a Single Window is backed by a robust, modern legal and regulatory foundation and invited all participants to submit final written comments by January 16, 2026, to allow the World Bank Group to finalize the report.

As Sri Lanka moves closer to realizing the TNSWS, this legal and regulatory alignment stands as a fundamental prerequisite to fostering a more transparent, investor-friendly, and prosperous nation.