Since Wednesday, Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended the import of over 300 ‘non-essential’ items amid the soft-peg crisis.

Under the Import and Export Control Act, the gazette was signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as Finance Minister.

Cosmetics, electrical goods, watercraft, ships, aircraft, electrical and electronic goods, and building materials were among the items on the list. Aside from chocolate, other food products included cocoa, condensed milk, yogurt, coconuts, coconut-based arrack, roses, perfumes, beauty products, deodorants, shampoos, dental floss, trunks, suitcases, and briefcases.

Exports of marble, travertine, and other calcareous monumental and building stones, tubes, pipes, and fittings are prohibited by the Finance Ministry.

In addition to these items, the list also included bags, bottle cases, jewelry boxes, powder boxes, cutlery cases, toilet paper or facial tissue, towel and napkin stock, electrical goods such as refrigerators, and freezers, and other refrigerating or freezing equipment.

All goods on the suspended list that were shipped before August 23 and arrived at any Sri Lankan seaport or airport before September 14 will be allowed for customs clearance.

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