23 November 2020 12:07 am
By Chaturanga Samarawickrama
While condemning the statement made by an unrecognised association with very similar abbreviations, supporting the ban of motor vehicles, Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) urged the government to reconsider the import ban.
The Association said that severe issues had been faced by the vehicle importers and all related industries due to the ban on vehicle imports. “Continuing with the vehicle ban, created a negative impact on the Sri Lankan economy,” the Association said.
“Vehicle importers provide multiple employment opportunities ranging from accountants, sales executives, marketing executives, drivers, cleaners, security staff, etc. Furthermore, service areas such as clearing agents, interior cleaners, mechanics, car- carrier operators and service centres are directly dependent on the importation of motor vehicles,” the Association said. “The vehicle importers, as well as related service providers, have faced severe difficulties maintaining their business premises, paying off bank loans, rent and paying the salaries of their employees. Since the industry was only at the recovery stage after the Easter attack, most vehicle importers carried out importation with minimum stock, as the holding cost of our industry is substantial,” they said.
Hence currently there were a large number of showrooms and importers in the country who were without a single vehicle in their showrooms and were struggling to survive and to pay their employees, the Association said.
“If the ban is to continue further, they will be forced to close down their business and make all their employees redundant. As per the calculation carried out by VIASL, around 100, 000 direct and indirect employees will have to be made redundant if the ban is to continue further,” the Association said.
“This would mean around
350, 000 - 400, 000 dependants of these employees will be facing severe financial difficulties endangering their mere survival,” they added.