Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Import curbs hurt furniture importers for houses and luxury apartments

By

21 July 2020 09:14 am - 4     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The sudden imposition of restrictions on imports indiscriminately has caused immense difficulties to importers of luxury items for houses and luxury apartments, which is a niche market in the Sri Lankan context, Mirror Business learns. 


According to industry stakeholders, importation of such items should be restricted with a hard look, given the circumstances and ample notice given to the entrepreneurs involved in 
the businesses. 


Such a move could have enabled them to look for alternative ways and means or establishing a facility for the local market and surrounding markets such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries in the SAARC region. That could have been worked out within a year’s time frame, for necessary negotiations and other related work to set up such a facility in Sri Lanka.

They believe that the government should have studied the effects of such an imprudent decision before making a unilateral announcement across the board that had created an unfavourable business climate for the import market. 


“It is an unwise move by somebody who has no concern for thriving businesses and the people who are employed in these enterprises and making a living,” a spokesperson from the Furniture Importers Association said.


“Our industry is for a niche market and the local industrialists can no way match these requirements.


These are items manufactured using cutting-edge technology to create ultra-modern and state-of-the-art products and only luxury house builders would purchase them. It will not have any adverse effect on the local manufacturers since they do not have the technical know-how or the machinery required,” she added.


It has been brought to the notice that the furniture items ordered before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic are still lying at the respective factories overseas. The factory owners are perturbed over the delays occurring pending collection and shipments. 


On the other hand, some of the ongoing local projects are at a standstill being unable to complete on time while the clients who made advanced payments threatening legal action.
Besides, the closure of such businesses would result in a loss of employment for nearly 30,000 to 40,000 people, if the government fails to lift the restrictions in some form, bringing in relief to the businesses involved in importing luxury items. 


Showroom owners lament that millions of rupees invested to set up showrooms displaying these items for prospective buyers have now gone to waste. 


The taxes levied for such imports are a hundred percent, which includes the freight charges when calculating the Customs duties. Hence, the government is also losing revenue by way of tax revenue imposed on theses goods.

 

 


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 4

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Ben Navaratne Tuesday, 21 July 2020 04:19 PM

    Get our local carpenters and other arts and craft workers with proper tools and machinary tax free. They will turn out all your requirements. Set up proper caropentry training centersa in every school. Allow import of timber logs from Brasil and other countries, China too import there logs for making furniture. Why you want to imp[ort always. ?

    Thomas Pieters Tuesday, 21 July 2020 07:27 PM

    Restrictions on importing luxury items will remain. Thus here lies the challenge, not to go easy and import, but to produce these items here in Sri Lanka and as perfect as possible, create productivity, employment

    S.F.Canagasabey Tuesday, 21 July 2020 07:47 PM

    With all the problems faced by the Country a further drain on Forex should be the last thing to consider ... Profits are not everything. Think of Investment in the Local Industry.

    Saranga Walimuni Tuesday, 21 July 2020 09:07 PM

    Omg this outdated economic theories by Sri Lankans haven't worked anywhere in the world Restrict once the domestic manufacturers are ready They are still in elementary stage


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H