Sri Lanka has revived plans to introduce an Air Cargo Community System (ACCS) aimed at making the country’s air cargo clearance and transportation processes faster, more efficient and transparent.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, with a multi-stakeholder committee established to coordinate the project. The committee includes representatives from the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited., Sri Lanka Customs, the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines and the Ministry of Digital Economy, among other relevant institutions and stakeholders.

Sri Lanka previously attempted to introduce an ACCS in 2023. However, the initiative failed to progress due to insufficient coordination and consensus among the various stakeholders involved in the air cargo process.

The project has now been revived with the relevant agencies brought together on a common platform to develop a coordinated approach to its implementation.

A feasibility study is currently underway to assess the viability of introducing the ACCS, including its technical requirements and business needs.

A special review meeting on the progress of the initiative was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku.

Reducing delays and paperwork

The proposed system is expected to streamline the air cargo clearance process by reducing delays and unnecessary documentation while enabling faster and more efficient information sharing among government agencies, airlines and other stakeholders.

The Ministry said the system would also improve the quality and transparency of services available to importers and exporters.

By digitising and better coordinating processes across the air cargo supply chain, the ACCS is expected to improve the efficiency of Sri Lanka’s air cargo sector and contribute to creating a more business-friendly environment for international trade and economic activity.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernise Sri Lanka’s logistics and trade facilitation infrastructure and strengthen the country’s position as a regional aviation and logistics hub.