Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
101 rules, checked against Sri Lanka’s own pages. Last verified September 12, 2026.
Before anything else
13 rules here carry a consequence heavy enough to state whether or not you asked.
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Heated tobacco products are banned from manufacture, import, and sale.
Confiscation
Source · verified
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka treats medical cannabis as a prohibited narcotic, not a licensed medicine.
Prosecution
Source · verified
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Codeine is a controlled narcotic drug, not an over-the-counter medicine, in Sri Lanka.
Prosecution
Source · verified
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Opioid painkillers are controlled narcotic drugs with no traveler carry-in exemption.
Prosecution
Source · verified
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Morphine is a controlled narcotic drug with no traveler carry-in exemption.
Prosecution
Source · verified
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Pepper spray and other gas-discharge devices are prohibited to private travelers.
Confiscation
Source · verified
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Prohibited in Sri Lanka
Action required in Sri Lanka
Religious imagery seen as insulting to a faith can be seized at customs.
Confiscation
Source · verified
The final decision rests with the officer.
Look up anything
You do not have to be bringing it.
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Food and plants
9
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Medication
11
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Alcohol
4
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Tobacco, vapes, and nicotine
1
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Electronics
6
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Drones and professional gear
2
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Liquids at the checkpoint
1
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Cash and monetary instruments
6
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Purchases and valuables
9
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Duty-free allowances
8
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Weapons and blades
2
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Antiques and other restricted goods
16
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Forms and documents
15
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Entry and admissibility
2
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Vaccines and health
6
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Plugs and power
3
Food and plants
9
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Biosecurity authority
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Source · verified
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Dairy
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Eggs
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Fresh fruit
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Meat and meat products
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Nuts
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Seeds, plants, soil
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Spices
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Vegetables
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Medication
11
A pharmacist checks each medicine before it is listed here. What follows is what the health authority publishes for every traveler.
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ADHD stimulants
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Benzodiazepines
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Health authority
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Source · verified
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Hormone therapy
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Standing Not listed as restricted by NMRA
Source · verified
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Insulin and needles
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Standing Not listed as restricted by NMRA
Source · verified
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Medication regime
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Controlled medicines need a permit
Source · verified
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Permit
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NMRA import authorization (narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances); NDDCB precursor import authorization (e.g. pseudoephedrine, ephedrine)
Source · verified
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Permit page
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Source · verified
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Pseudoephedrine
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Pseudoephedrine decongestants
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Sleep aids
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Alcohol
4
Tobacco, vapes, and nicotine
1
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Tobacco concession
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Yes
Source · verified
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Electronics
6
Drones and professional gear
2
Liquids at the checkpoint
1
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Liquids in a carry-on bag
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100 ml
Source · verified
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Cash and monetary instruments
6
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Cash declaration threshold
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$15,000
Source · verified
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Gold
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Gold jewelry must be declared to the Customs Arrival No. 1 Officer on arrival; Sri Lanka Customs' travelers guide does not state a minimum weight or value threshold below which gold does not need to be declared.
Source · verified
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Local currency brought in
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LKR 20,000
Source · verified
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Local currency taken out
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LKR 20,000
Source · verified
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What counts as cash
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Currency notes, Bank drafts, Checks, Travel cards
Source · verified
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When cash is declared
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Arriving and leaving
Source · verified
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Purchases and valuables
9
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Duty-free allowance
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$187.5
residents
Source · verified
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$625
residents · away 3 months or more
Source · verified
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$1,750
residents · away 1 year or more
Source · verified
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$125
residents · age 18 and under
Source · verified
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$187.5
residents · age 18 and under · away 3 months or more
Source · verified
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$250
visitors
Source · verified
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Gift allowance
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$250
visitors
Source · verified
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Perfume allowance
Duty-free allowances
8
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Arrivals duty-free shop
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There is one
Source · verified
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Arrivals shop cap
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$250
visitors
Source · verified
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Beer
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Alcohol at the arrivals shop 2 liters
Source · verified
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Duty free authority page
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Source · verified
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Duty-free against the allowance
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Yes
Source · verified
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Spirits
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Wine
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Alcohol at the arrivals shop 2 liters
Source · verified
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Weapons and blades
2
Antiques and other restricted goods
16
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Aviation security authority
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Source · verified
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Customs authority
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Source · verified
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Drone
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Standing A permit is required
Source · verified
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Permit page Official page
Source · verified
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Local currency
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Taking it out Limited quantity
leaving
Source · verified
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Phone
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Standing A permit is requiredConfiscation
Source · verified
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Radio transmitter or ham radio
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Standing A permit is requiredConfiscation
Source · verified
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Permit page Official page
Source · verified
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Satellite messenger
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Standing A permit is requiredConfiscation
Source · verified
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Permit page Official page
Source · verified
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Satellite phone
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Standing A permit is requiredConfiscation
Source · verified
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Permit page Official page
Source · verified
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Starlink terminal
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Standing A permit is requiredConfiscation
Source · verified
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Permit page Official page
Source · verified
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Walkie-talkie
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Standing A permit is requiredConfiscation
Source · verified
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Permit page Official page
Source · verified
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Forms and documents
15
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Arrival card
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Required
arriving
Source · verified
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Departure form
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Required
leaving
Source · verified
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Leaving the terminal in transit
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Required
if you leave the terminal
Source · verified
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Lookalike sites
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The authority publishes one
Source · verified
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Onward ticket
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Required
Source · verified
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Passport validity
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6 months
Source · verified
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Travel authorization
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Required
by air
Source · verified
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Travel authorization
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Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Source · verified
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Travel authorization fee
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Travel authorization page
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Source · verified
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Travel authorization valid for
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When the card opens
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On arrival
arriving
Source · verified
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Entry and admissibility
2
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A criminal record
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Sri Lanka publishes no fixed sentence-length or offense-type threshold for how a criminal record affects entry. The Department of Immigration and Emigration's Investigation Division exists to "effectively engage in identification and removal of foreigners whose stay is in contravention of the immigrants and emigrants act" and to "carry out court orders in respect of detention and repatriation of foreigners," under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948, giving immigration authorities broad discretion over admission, detention and deportation rather than a published article-numbered bright-line test.
Source · verified
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Immigration authority
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Source · verified
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Vaccines and health
6
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Certificate from age
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9 months
Source · verified
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Health notes for this destination
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Source · verified
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Malaria
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CDC advises malaria risk exists in parts of Sri Lanka; travelers to risk areas should fill antimalarial prescriptions before departure and continue the medication as directed after returning home. "Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness."
Source · verified
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Yellow fever certificate
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Required arriving from a risk area
Source · verified
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Yellow fever in transit
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Required on a connection over 12 hours
Source · verified
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Yellow fever risk area
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No
Source · verified
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Plugs and power
3
Sri Lanka publishes these
Who publishes these rules
- Customs Sri Lanka Customs
- Immigration Department of Immigration & Emigration
- Biosecurity National Plant Quarantine Service, Department of Agriculture
- Health National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA)
- Civil aviation Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL)
Official portals
- TRCSL RTTE Personal-Use Customs Clearance Forms Application forms for personal-use customs clearance of radio/satellite equipment (radios, walkie-talkies, satellite phones, satellite messengers) under the RTTE Type Approval Rules 2020
- CAASL Online Drone Approval System Visitor request for flying approval to operate a drone temporarily in Sri Lanka
- TRCSL Satellite Service Frequency Application Application for issue/renewal of use of frequency for a fixed or transportable satellite terminal (e.g., Starlink dish)
- Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Official pre-arrival ETA (tourist/business visa) application and payment portal
- National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) / Precursor Control Authority Competent authority for import authorization of precursor chemicals (e.g. pseudoephedrine, ephedrine); also drug treatment and the 1927 helpline
Sites that charge extra to “handle” a Sri Lanka application are not official. The government issues these directly.