Port City duty free mall to attract high end shoppers
The Colombo Port City US$7 million Duty-Free (DF) shopping Mall due to open in the first quarter of this year would offer duty free shopping to tourists as well as Sri Lankans and expatriates returning from overseas giving them more choices of shopping, official sources said.
It will first open as an “IKEA Style Warehouse Model” shopping mall and will develop to a competitive shopping complex in the coming five years.
The Colombo Port City Duty-Free Regulations have been drafted and are awaiting Cabinet approval for the determination of the duty free allowance and other limitations in purchasing products and luxury items at the shops of the mall, a senior official told the Business Times.
Further these products can be purchased by all passengers who are arriving or leaving the country via the Colombo Port or Katunayake Airport with the valid passport and boarding pass as proof of travel.
The government is now looking at the possibility to offer a revised, enhanced Duty-Free allowance and limitations for Sri Lanka passport holders who return to the country, he added.
The facility will be managed by two of the world’s leading DF operators, transforming Colombo Port City as a regional shopping destination.
Meanwhile Duty-free shops at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have been relocated from the first floor to the second floor, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd sources said.
The relocation was carried out with the objective of enhancing passenger experience at the arrival Duty-Free area at the BIA at a cost of Rs. 225 million.
Minister of Ports and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said that this initiative will further facilitate duty free shopping to tourists as well as Sri Lankans and expatriates returning from overseas.
Duty Free shops are serving all passengers either embarking or disembarking from International Flights, he added.
These outlets have been granted the required permission to import products directly from the major brands, without having to pay import / custom duty on them – which is what makes them cheaper than normal retail shops.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!