Colombo, December 20 (Each day Mirror) – If hybrid car imports are taxed primarily based on their engine capability, it’ll fulfill each shoppers and the federal government, whereas decreasing the costs of present automobiles within the nation, President of the Sri Lanka Enterprise Council of Japan Jagath Ramanayake mentioned.
Addressing the media, he mentioned that there’s an growing international pattern in using hybrid automobiles. The international change required to import hybrid automobiles is considerably decrease in comparison with petrol or diesel-driven automobiles.
Ramanayake proposed that the federal government ought to import used or brand-new automobiles whereas imposing taxes primarily based on engine capability, making certain a constant income stream for the federal government.
“Taxing hybrid car imports primarily based on engine capability will profit each shoppers and the federal government. This strategy can even decrease the costs of present automobiles within the nation. If carried out, it might result in higher-quality used or brand-new automobiles getting into the market, enhance workforce participation and cut back gas prices,” he mentioned.
He additionally counseled the choice to permit the import of motor automobiles for private use beginning February 1, 2025, following a five-year suspension.
“As car importers from Japan, we’ve mentioned this matter with Sri Lankan car importers and conveyed to the federal government that now’s the correct time to renew car imports.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, nations in Africa and Asia resumed car imports inside two or three years. Some nations decreased taxes to encourage imports, whereas others even imposed zero p.c import taxes to fulfill the demand for automobiles important for financial progress,” he mentioned.
Ramanayake urged the Sri Lankan authorities to increase the permissible manufacturing 12 months of imported automobiles from three years to seven years, citing the prime quality of those automobiles. He emphasised that importing such automobiles would scale back prices by greater than 50 p.c whereas minimising environmental harm attributable to their use in managed and eco-friendly environments.
He added that automobiles exported to nations like Australia, New Zealand and England are sometimes almost seven years previous from the date of manufacture. Regardless of their age, the standard of those automobiles stays excessive.
