VIASL listed several budget proposals to purchase quality vehicle at reasonable price

With the intention of developing the motor vehicle industry while increasing government revenue, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) has listed down several budget proposals to purchase a quality vehicle at a reasonable price.

In the proposal for the budget proposal, the VIASL mentioned severe issues faced by the importers and the related parties.

"The government has imposed a complete ban on motor vehicles since March 2020, citing foreign currency outflows as the main reason. This has negatively impacted the Sri Lankan economy as well as vehicle importers and all related industries. These entrepreneurs have been in the motor vehicle trade for generations. Furthermore, those providing supporting services for vehicles have been adversely affected," they said.

However, the VIASL expects a credible survival plan as well as the fullest support of the government for them to overcome their difficulties. Instead, the government has been indulged in various diverging tactics to curb the frustration of both the general public and vehicle importers.

So far, several official requests have been made to the Finance Minister to provide us with an audience to discuss our issues and to take our suggestions on board to overcome this situation. So far, we have not been given the opportunity. 

As evident from incidents around us, the failure to consult industry experts on respective matters is a fundamental weakness of this administration, "the association said.

In the proposal, the VIASL mentioned a viable long-term solution for vehicle importation, prevention of tax evasion by vehicle manufacturing and assembling industries, the introduction of the GAAI certificate and controlling prices of vehicles locally. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)