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Vehicle import ban: traders want to be consulted in decision-making
Government authorities must consult vehicle importers when making decisions on relaxing an ongoing import ban, President of the Vehicle Importers’ Association Indika Sampath Merinchige said.
Welcoming a recent announcement by the government that it will scrap an import ban on several types of commercial vehicles, Merinchige told reporters on Monday August 14 that the authorities must convene industry representatives to formulate new laws or regulations with regard to vehicle importation.
Commenting on a similar relaxation of an import ban on refrigerated trucks imposed in 2020, Merinchige said a truck that cost half a million rupees now sells for about 1.5 million rupees.
“So regulations are needed,” he said.
Merinchige also called for a mechanism to address price increases in Japan when importing vehicles to Sri Lanka.
“You can add a surcharge for unnecessary purchases,” he said.
This is how it needs to be done, he added, noting that Sri Lanka does not have sufficient foreign exchange to completely relax the ban.
Sri Lanka banned the import of most vehicles and other goods during a currency crisis triggered by the worst case of macro-economic policy deployment (output gap targeting) since the setting up of a money printing central bank in 1950.
Buses, trucks, bowsers, milk tankers and refrigerated trucks are allowed to be imported from August 14.The import ban on special purpose vehicles including fire engines, crane trucks, concrete mixer and concrete pump trucks was also lifted.
Used vehicles are also allowed, depending on their age.Banned vehicles imported earlier and held up in ports would be released on the payment of an additional import duty of 30 percent.
Merinchige claimed the government is relaxing the vehicle imports in accordance with the wishes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which bailed Sri Lanka out of its worst financial crisis in decades.
“The government is doing this for the IMF. As traders, we also like this. But we don’t wish to lose it,” said Merinchige.
“Our letters of credit (LCs) are not accepted anywhere in the world now. We’ll have to change payment methods too,” he said.
Merinchige called for amendments to existing laws, adding that import relaxation must be done through consensus.
“Since the restrictions were imposed, there are about 600 vehicles in the port. We have been asking the government for two years to do this. The government still hasn’t been able to issue a circular and release these vehicles,” he complained.
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.
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.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of the island after 1.00 pm
Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
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