A Sri Lankan academic and researcher says he has been forced to shut down his research laboratory, which has been operating for over five years, due to difficulties in importing essential components and the imposition of steep import taxes.
Dr Suneth Pathirana, a university lecturer and researcher in brain-machine interfacing technologies, shared an emotional post on Facebook revealing that he has decided to close his research lab after facing significant delays and cost escalations in obtaining critical electronic components — particularly a key EEG sensor chip.
According to Dr Pathirana, his team had designed a brain-signal sensor and had already convinced around 10 international researchers to purchase their product for $299. However, due to sudden import restrictions, unavailability of an “Add to Cart” option on the Aliexpress platform, and a dramatic increase in import taxes — which now total over Rs. 50,000 — he said the team could no longer afford to supply the product even at $500.
“I’ve been paying my research assistants with a personal loan. That’s now exhausted, and I’m funding everything from my own salary. For 17 days, our equipment and components have been stuck, and my assistants are left idling,” he wrote, adding that the situation has left him with no choice but to shut down the lab, into which he had invested over Rs. 4 million.
Aliexpress, a popular foreign online shopping platform known for affordable imports, has recently come under scrutiny as many Sri Lankans complain about sudden disruptions in receiving their orders. Social media users have raised concerns about items not arriving, rising product prices, and significantly higher shipping fees.
Aliexpress services are still operational in Sri Lanka. However, the free shipping option has been removed and that shipping costs have surged.
Meanwhile, AliExpress has officially suspended several of its low-cost shipping options to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, following recent changes to customs duty regulations introduced by the two governments.
In a notice to sellers, the e-commerce platform announced that from 7 July 2025, logistics routes to both countries will be processed offline. As a result, sellers will no longer be able to choose the previously available budget-friendly shipping methods when dispatching goods to Sri Lanka or Pakistan.
The decision comes in the wake of tax reform initiatives aimed at tightening the regulation of small parcel imports, which authorities say were undermining local industries.
Addressing public concerns, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, issued a statement on Facebook to clarify the revised import tax structure.
He explained that the earlier system, which allowed individual parcels weighing under 1 kg to be cleared with a flat duty of Rs. 800—or in some cases, no duty at all if below a certain value—had been abused and posed a threat to domestic manufacturers.
Under the revised system, import duties will now be calculated based on the internationally recognised Harmonized System (HS) codes assigned to goods, rather than just the parcel’s weight. The new approach is intended to ensure fairer taxation and stronger protection for local industries.
However, Sri Lanka Customs has refuted claims of imposing a new tax on small parcel imports, clarifying that recent changes are meant to ensure accurate duty collection based on product value and classification. Customs Media Spokesman Seevali Arukgoda stated that no new taxes have been introduced and that parcels are not being held.
Instead, the existing tax structure is now being properly enforced, correcting past under-invoicing and misuse under the old flat-rate system. Duties are now calculated using the internationally standardised HS Code system. Courier companies were given prior notice, and recipients are not required to visit Customs offices, as clearances are managed by the couriers.
