Vehicle importers say: ‘Motor vehicle stocks not sufficient for 2-1/2 months’

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

The Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL)  yesterday said there are less than 3,000 motor vehicles in the market  and those vehicles are not even sufficient to cater to the demands for at least two and a  half months, VIASL Secretary Arosha Rodrigo said.   

He said they made this assumption following a survey carried out by the Association regarding the current vehicle stock situation.   He said this situation cannot be controlled for the  survival of the trade until the Government decided to lift the import  ban immediately.   

However, Government officials have been provided with  blatantly overestimated figures despite the current motor vehicle stock  levels. Even   the President’s Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundara has said  the current vehicle stock is sufficient for two and a half years, he  said.   Therefore, we urge the government to lift the ban on motor  vehicles at the earliest for the mobility of our economy and the  development of various industries.   

Furthermore, concessions need to be provided to categories  such as small motor-cars, trucks, vans and buses. This will enable  mobility and development of people-centric economic sectors paving the way for motor vehicle importers to survive, Mr Rodrigo added.