The Import and Export Control Department has suspended the decision announced yesterday to lift the ban imposed on ceramic items last year.

The ban was imposed as a part of the Government’s prolonged stringent import restrictions from March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, yesterday issued a gazette notification “deleting” the ceramic items from “Schedule I” of the Imports and Exports (Control) Regulation No. 04 of 2020, published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 21841/21 dated 16 July 2020, and included them in “Schedule II” of said Gazette.

According to The Morning, Schedule II stipulates that items can be imported only on a minimum 180-day credit facility provided by the foreign supplier, from the date of Bill of Lading or Airway Bill of said goods.

However, issuing a circular, the Import and Export Control Department said the Government’s decision has been suspended until further notice. (NewsWire)