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No import of vehicles anytime soon as govt. is concerned about drain on exchange reserves – Siyambalapitiya
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government has not decided on a timeline to allow the free import of vehicles to the country, State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says. He said that importing vehicles would be a drain on the country’s foreign currency reserves.
“We have allowed the import of 250 buses and 750 vans for tourism. We are looking into whether and how we can relax the import of vehicles. That’s it.”
Siyambalapitiya said there is one vehicle for five Sri Lankans. The government has appointed an expert committee to examine whether the country is ready to allow the import of private vehicles.
“We will decide what to do, based on what the Committee says. Some groups, like vehicle importers, are adversely affected by the restrictions on vehicle imports. However, we must look at national priorities.”
The State Minister said there will be a massive demand for vehicles, if the government relaxes the restrictions on vehicle imports. This would lead to a large outflow of foreign reserves.
“We have not allowed vehicle imports since 2020. The demand probably is huge now”.
Siyambalapitiya said there are sporadic rumours that the government will allow vehicle imports soon. “I don’t know how to make these videos and how they come with this idea,” he added.
He also said that they are closely monitoring the vehicles imported under a scheme to allow migrant workers to import vehicles.
Siyambalapitiya said that restructuring domestic debt was controversial and that the biggest burden of the restructuring was borne by the EPF.
“There are 2.7 million beneficiaries and last year, we promised to pay them an interest rate of 9 percent until 2026. However, at the end of 2023, we realized we can give a higher interest rate because of the good investments we had made with the fund. We decided to give an interest of 13 percent for 2023. What we will pay for 2024 will be decided in 2025,” he said.
He added that this is the first time that EPF beneficiaries received an interest rate of 13 percent after 2009.
Siyambalapitiya said in the past four months, the Central Bank has bought 1.2 billion dollars from the local market. If the Bank did not make this intervention, the exchange rate of the dollar will be about 250 rupees.
“This would have badly affected the exporters.”
Sri Lanka has exceeded its state revenue target for the first quarter of 2024 by 6 percent, Siyambalapitiya said, adding that the government expects a revenue collection of 4,106 billion rupees in 2024.
The State Minister said the government wants its revenue to be at least 14 percent of the GDP and that he believes the revenue target for the year can be achieved.
The Sri Lankan government collects revenue through three institutions, i.e., Sri Lankan Customs, the Excise Department, and the Inland Revenue Department, and has collected 834 billion rupees (about 2.8 billion dollars) in the first quarter, compared with an expected revenue target of 787 billion rupees (about 2.6 billion dollars) in the period, he said.
Siyambalapitiya mentioned that cheques will no longer be accepted to pay income tax. Over the years a large number of people have paid their income tax by cheque and a lot of these cheques have bounced.
The State Minister said that any government that comes into power will have to follow the current economic policies. There will be a collapse akin to 2022, if there is a diversion from the current path.
Latest News
Public will not be served as Computer system failure at Department of Registration of Persons
The Acting Commissioner General of Registration of Persons has announced that due to an unexpected failure of the computer system of the Department of Registration of Persons, all services, including the one day service will not be held on Tuesday (24th March) at the Head Office and all Provincial offices.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 22 March 2026, valid for 23 March 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
The latest fuel price increases have sparked widespread concern among transport operators and raised questions about the government’s supportive measures. Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr Nalinda Jayathissa told a media briefing yesterday that the government was incurring a monthly loss of Rs. 20 billion by maintaining subsidies on fuel. According to the Minister, the state loses Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol under the current pricing system, a burden that the Treasury continues to absorb as part of a “supportive mechanism.”
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) revised fuel prices from midnight on March 21, raising the price of a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel by Rs. 79 to Rs. 382, Super Diesel by Rs. 90 to Rs. 443, Octane 95 petrol by Rs. 90 to Rs. 455, and Octane 92 petrol by Rs. 81 to Rs. 398. Lanka Kerosene was increased by Rs. 60,bringing the price to Rs. 255 per litre. Other suppliers, including Sinopec and Lanka IOC, also implemented similar hikes, with Sinopec’s Super Diesel rising sharply by Rs. 219 to Rs. 572 per litre.
The surge in fuel prices has had an immediate impact on public transport. The Chairman of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association, Gamunu Wijerathne, told The Island that 90% of private buses were off the road yesterday (22). He called for a 15% increase in bus fares, raising the minimum fare from Rs. 27 to Rs. 35, warning that services could be suspended if fare adjustments are not approved.
Three-wheeler operators have also pressed for immediate fare revisions. L. Rohana Perera, General Secretary of the National Joint Three-Wheeler and Industrialists’ Association, said the rising fuel costs have made it difficult for drivers to continue operating. The Association has proposed a Rs. 20 increase for the first kilometre fare for all meter-operated three-wheelers and plans to present its concerns to the Presidential Secretariat.
Fuel price monitoring has also intensified amid concerns over potential smuggling. A senior police officer told The Island that intelligence units have been deployed near fuel stations to prevent hoarding. The police suspect that certain fuel station employees and owners could be facilitating stockpiling.
Political leaders have warned that the hikes will ripple across the economy. SJB MP S.M. Marikkar said transport cost increases will drive up the prices of essential goods such as rice and fish, leaving consumers struggling under rising costs.
Import and export container transportation charges will be increased by 20% from midnight yesterday (22) due to the recent fuel price hike, according to the Container Transport Vehicle Owners’ Association.
The latest increases follow two rounds of price hikes since March 9, driven by surging global oil prices amid the Middle East conflict. Since then, Lanka Petrol 92 Octane has risen by Rs. 105 to Rs. 398, Petrol 95 Octane by Rs. 115 to Rs. 455, Auto Diesel by Rs. 101 to Rs. 382, and Super Diesel by Rs. 114 to Rs. 443 representing an overall increase of around 35% across key fuel categories.
by Norman Palihawadane and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
Public will not be served as Computer system failure at Department of Registration of Persons
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts
Showers may occur at several places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 2.00 pm.
Fuel price hikes trigger transport disruptions and calls for fare increases
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