News
Waiver of tariffs on electric vehicles for assembling companies investing USD 50 mn
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal by the President to remove all tariffs on electric vehicles for companies that had signed or would enter into agreements with the BOI to invest at least 50 million US dollars on assembling electric vehicles and plug – in hybrid electric vehicles, cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday.
Gunawardena said many Asian countries had encouraged assembling and manufacturing of electric vehicles and plug – in hybrid vehicles by removing all tariffs on such companies.
The Cabinet spokesman said above mentioned companies would not be charged a CIF when importing electric vehicles, electric two – wheelers with a power grade up to 500 kW and modern partially assembled Semi – Knocked – Down / SKD sets with an engine capacity up to 3000 CC for assembling.
The Cabinet of Ministers had also approved a proposal by the President to allow companies to import new rechargeable electric vehicles not exceeding 30,000 dollars if they fall under “Retaining and extending investors for re – investment of existing board of investment approved companies” and “The 100 service companies programme that are board of investment’s information technology / and companies empowered by information technology” programmes, the minister said.
Companies that were eligible for the programme for retaining and extending investors for reinvestment of existing board of investment approved companies were those who had registered under section 17 of Sri Lanka Investment Board Act and had been in operation within a period of less than 5 years. These institutions must have also invested at least three million dollars and have created at least 50 jobs, Minister Gunawardena said, adding that the companies which fell under the 100 service companies’ programme must have created at least 50 jobs and at least 15 of those jobs should be technical in nature. Those institutions must have also invested at least 250,000 dollars, he said.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal forwarded by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala, the officer
in the special grade of Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service currently serving as the Additional Surveyor General (Central) to the post of Surveyor General with effect from 02.02.2026.
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
Cabinet nod to obtain diagnostic reports under public-private partnership
Cabinet approves implementation of National Strategic Action tion Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings – 2026- 2030
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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