Sri Lanka Advance Passenger Information

Regulations

1. These regulations may be cited as the Advance Passenger Information reporting (Electronic) Regulations No. 2 of 2015 and shall come into operation from 1³‘ of January 2016. (hereinafter after referred to as “the date of operation”)
2. For the purpose of these regulations the term “operator of an aircraft’ shall include Airlines, country representative or station manager of an Airline.

Registration of Aircraft Operators

1. Operators of aircrafts who operate flights to and from Airports in Sri Lanka shall register with Sri Lanka Customs for reporting passenger information electronically. Such operators shall submit the prescribed application forms published on Customs Website for registration to the Information and Communication Technology Division of Sri Lanka Customs and obtain a registration number and user credentials to access the customs computer system, in order to submit passenger information electronically.
2. The registration made under regulation 3 of these regulations unless it is suspended, cancelled or revoked by the Director General of Customs shall remain in force for a period of two years from the date of registration.
3. Operators of Aircrafts who currently hold registration with Sri Lanka Customs, shall renew their registrations after 2 years of the date of operation of the regulations.

Why Customs Needs Advance Passenger Information ?

Risk Assessment and Targeting for:
–National program to eradicate the drug menace
–Obligations under UNODC CCP
–To manage Revenue Risks
–Manage Threats to National Security

Method of Filing API

1.Regulations published compelling the filing of API.
2.API has to be filed upon departure from Last Airport or before seeking outward clearance.
3.Guidelines published on the Customs Website under Downloads -> APIS
4.Registration and filing the information are mandatory according to the regulations.