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Who can afford to import vehicles at current rates, asks Harsha
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By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera
Colombo, Feb 18 (Daily Mirror) - Vehicle imports will be very risky as prices of vehicles have gone up remarkably, SJB MP Harsha De Silva said today.
Opening the budget debate, he told Parliament that the President stated in his budget speech that the majority of tax revenue is expected from vehicle imports.
The MP said vehicle prices have gone up remarkably where according to new prices, vehicles such as the Toyota Raize has gone up to Rs. 12.2 million, Toyota Yaris Rs. 18.5 million and a Prius to Rs. 28.9 million.
"Vehicle import is very risky. Who can afford to import vehicles at this rate? I do not think there will be affluent people to import vehicles at current rates," he said.
Comments - 52
Comments - Who can afford to import vehicles at current rates, asks Harsha
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A Supporter SJB Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:20 PM
Don't worry Dr. There will be plenty of buyers.
11 52
Terry Dias - Snr. Journalist Tuesday, 18 February 2025 02:52 PM
Yes, for Mahinda
4 18
Nayana Neelamoney Tuesday, 18 February 2025 05:24 PM
For tourist hotels, international schools, foreign missions and investors etc. Paddy dealers, coal dealers won't experience super-wheel blackouts as the system could not yet be changed as expected. Thanks to legislature discipline and lack of FC, MPs won't get it soon.
0 2
Mina Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:21 PM
Your party will never succeed since it lacks vision and led by a leader who has no wisdom to see beyond his eye sight
11 63
Na-mal Roja-Pakshe Tuesday, 18 February 2025 03:01 PM
We arranged super luxury vehicles with less taxes when my father was the President. True my father bought and gave me 12 Super Luxury Cars (4 racing cars). He also gifted 8 vehicles to his close friends who were very close to him such as Mahinananda, Jonny, Ratha rang Abeygunawardene and Rambukwella. We are not beggars Mr. Harsha.
5 29
Colombo fan Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:23 PM
Harsha, the real question is can Sri Lanka afford to import vehicles at this moment of time. Who can afford it at these rates is a separate question.
6 74
Russel Harmmer Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:27 PM
Dr. Harsha, don't say so. For an example Rajapakshe family members can effort to buy Luxury vehicles at any price as their easy money was looted from the public. Likewise, all the Potuwa MPs. are very rich commission money and they can afford to buy cars at any price.
12 62
Yohan Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:28 PM
True but sjb and npp too has equally rich politicians and businessman. For example Casino fonseka of sjb, western province businessman turned governor of npp, dadley who funds all parties, owners of major super market chains that funds all parties etc, tiran allas of npp and major funder of jvp etc.
14 7
JOHAN, GO OPEN A GO FUND ME A/C IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING OR START WORKING HARDER TO EARN IT. Tuesday, 18 February 2025 05:50 PM
HERE HE GOES AGAIN, SAD TO SAY BUT YOU APPEAR TO BE A VERY ENVIOUS PERSON.LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS HAVE OBTAINED BE IT HONEST AND OR DISHONEST MEANS, SIMPLY MANAGE OUR OWN FINANCES THE BEST WE CAN AND LIVE WITHIN OUR OWN MEANS. YOHAN, NEVER BE ENVIOUS OF THOSE WHO HAVE MORE THAN YOU BE IT ILLGOTTEN OR HONEST WEALTH. IF ILLGOTTEN MONEY, KARMA WILL GET TO THEM AND INTO THEIR GENERATIONS, SO STOP STRESSING.
0 0
Keerthi Munasinghe - Kurunegala Market Vendor Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:32 PM
What are you talking Mr. Harsha, Johnstan (SLPP) can buy 20-30 vehicles for his hence men paying any amount of money because his liquor business in Kurunegala is flourishing. He has expanded his illicit liquor bars in 15 more places from January 2025.
6 48
Deshan Ramanayake - Industrialist Tuesday, 18 February 2025 02:22 PM
Yes, its 100% true as I am a close associate of Johnson's Treasurer who handles his liquor business accounts. He is gifted with a Luxury Benz car. Moreover, Jonny had bought and given 25 brand new three wheelers to his illicit liquor managers. Whose money is this Mr. Harsha? What action is taken against him until now. Very soon our Hon. President will take appropriate action against him.
2 12
Gerard Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:40 PM
Why don't you report this to the police? This looks to me like first hand evidence. Please do you duty and bring these people to justice. No point in just mentioning here!
0 1
Be Fair Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:35 PM
Whoever can afford will buy, and at least this will control the outflow of excessive FX.
7 40
Wilfred Samarasinghe - Ex planter Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:36 PM
Harsha do you know that Kehiliya Rambukwella had purchased a Luxury Car (Benz) for his son paying 32 million recently? These cars are just toys for these rogues.
3 49
Roshanaly Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:42 PM
This measure can control the import of vehicles.
3 30
P Kunchithapathan Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:50 PM
Those who have evaded their tax obligations, alongside business figures who have amassed billions through export remittances—not to mention those who have systematically plundered state resources—could effortlessly afford to procure such luxury vehicles. Mr. Harsha, you are intimately familiar with these individuals, And business tycoons defaulted the state banks. Yet you deliberately withhold their identities, as they number among your personal associates. This nation no longer requires the importation of opulent automobiles. Instead, what is urgently needed—and has been critically delayed—is the development of a modern, state-of-the-art public transportation infrastructure to serve the collective good.
3 28
Edward Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:36 PM
Problem here is it's only reality drama show entertainment where as no one has been found guilty or even fined. Can you name 1 proved case? Don't you consider it tax payers money and nothing has come out of it?
2 1
EDWARD, YOUR COMMENT DISPLAYS YOUR STUPIDITY. CORRUPTION IS NOT A STRAIGHT FORWARD ROUTE TAKEN BY CROOKS, IT MOVES FROM ONE TO ANOTHER LIKE LIGHTENING. TAKES MTHS AND YES TO TRACE/TRACK DOWN WITH INTE Tuesday, 18 February 2025 05:58 PM
EDWARD, WAITTTT FOR RESULTS, THE GOVT HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO TRACK THEM DOWN AND WILL BE GOVERNING TILL 2025 AND THEREAFTER.
0 0
Judge Tuesday, 18 February 2025 12:59 PM
Really there won't be affluent people to import cars? Go and see chocker blocked roads, fully booked five star hotels, buffet lunches, dinners, fully booked expensive retreats. You just wonder where the money is coming from. Just about everything is bloody expensive in SL. People visiting SL from overseas can see any crap sold in SL is hugely expensive. But, SL people spend like they have no tomorrow. It is a very different mind set to people in developed countries where money is much more valued.
5 39
මෝඩ කැලුම් Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:06 PM
Those who were MPs and ministers in the previous governments and their good friends?
4 64
Budget supporter Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:12 PM
Big bug mouth go by public transport which will function very well after budget incentives
0 8
Yohan Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:25 PM
This is for the rich and upper middle class and those who helped the npp financially. For example DP, Dadley and any for any financially stable business owners this is peanuts. Also for sergeons, doctors and high earning professionals that can easily get a loan, this is not a big deal. Beggers does not need vehicles at this moment and those who wanted vitz for 1.2m can get from Pelawatte.
3 4
YOHAN, TAKE A BREAK " HAVE A KIT KAT". Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:03 PM
ONCE AGAIN THIS PERSON IS ONLY SHOWING THE FRUSTRATION HIS PARTY LOST, OR IS TRYING TO GAIN ATTENTION BY TROLLING AND GET HIS FINANCIAL STATUS UP AND OR BY NO MEANS THE LEAST IS WORKING HARD FOR HAVING HIS PALM OILED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
1 0
Naveen Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:28 PM
Harsha why are you wasting time when people don't understand it. It's understood Gota banned vehicles and people were crying. So now the present alternative is Cars be released to satisfy the masses obviously with an additional tax. Now without the duty free permits the it's been scrapped and even Politics vehicles have to be duty paid. It's quite OK as the masses will pay as those taxes for the Raja and politics vehicles in full with tax instead of permits cos the masses bumper salaries will be increases and it won't be a problem. So it's the same logic that comes to place. Personally feel it would be more beneficial to get into teaching and certainly would help the younger generation to come.
0 4
Zarook Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:30 PM
You'll bankrupted the country and asking questions now, you were part of the government during bond scam, remember?
4 18
Periyalingam Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:31 PM
Leeches of Diyawannawa and their friends can afford.
0 11
Truth Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:36 PM
Sri Lankan economy is run with black money. There are many who can afford them. Companies know there are takers.
1 14
P K Eran Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:52 PM
Biggest tax evaders at Havelock city can.
0 13
melville perera Tuesday, 18 February 2025 01:53 PM
did not prices go up during previous regimes even then they were bought by the characters referred to in your veiled comments
0 7
Jayantha Silva Tuesday, 18 February 2025 02:13 PM
When you were a Minister in the Yahapalanaya government you promised the people that VW was setting up a factory in Kuliyapitiya .This turned out to be a massive hoax. You should be ashamed to be talking of motor vehicles - but then again, you politicians have no shame.
1 15
Guppi Tuesday, 18 February 2025 02:14 PM
Shut up, says educated, but of no use.. mister.
1 9
Kankung Kirindiwela Tuesday, 18 February 2025 02:28 PM
Hon. Harsha, AKD and NPP knows pretty well that our roads cannot manage the existing flow of vehicles, this is what the taxes been increased on vehicles. Once, the roads are developed, definitely the taxes will be reduced.
2 7
K.H.K. Sirisena Tuesday, 18 February 2025 02:32 PM
Harsha, believe me as some said, it is true that Mahinda Rajapakshe and his family plus SLPP Mokers who looted and brought our country a crisis has enough money to throw and buy Luxury vehicles at any cost which I can prove. Even a few in the SJB also. So, please don't conn doctor.
0 15
Aquarius Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:16 PM
A vehicle is always considered a luxury in a Sri Lankan household. Like everything in life, luxury items are standard for the rich and and those who can afford. This budget is to make the life of the poor better and not to entertain the whims and fancies of the rich. If one can afford, go buy and stop being a spokesperson for the corrupt.
0 4
Gerard Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:20 PM
I whole heartedly concur. If you go to an extravagant buffet in so called 5-star hotels and witness the grotesque display of gratuitous gluttony of well-rounded parents and their equally obese impertinent children, it makes you physically sick that this is happening in a poverty-stricken country, where a large part of the population is privation devoid of even a basic existence. These people come in equally oversized vehicles because they cannot obviously fit in to normal sized cars. About 90% of the food displayed is not locally sourced, which makes you wonder how much of hard-earned foreign exchange of those who slave in the searing heat of the Middle-East goes to fattening this ‘upper class ‘and to cater all their whims and fancies. Most of those who earn precious foreign exchange are never likely to set foot in these gilded cages to see how their hard-earned money is spent. Just as well! As said here, witnessing how money is flaunted by the Sri Lankan elite for just for indulgenc
0 3
mina Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:25 PM
You all have nothing constructive to challenge this government. yesterday your leader criticize the government for fallowing IMF and he knows pretty well that the government budget has to be prepared keep that in that mind.
1 4
Jaya Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:37 PM
We don't need cars !!!!! We need a good
0 0
karu Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:42 PM
our youtubers and tik tok groups can afford it
0 3
Jasper Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:43 PM
Harsha, you were chairman of HOPE, COPE, POPE, DOPE, ELOPE, GROPE, LOPE, MOPE, SCOPE and so on. What happened to all the results, conman. You are just another BLABBER MOUTH like the rest.
0 9
sam Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:55 PM
Looters and their supporters
0 0
Chris Tuesday, 18 February 2025 04:59 PM
For those who cannot afford they can buy vehicles the government is selling .Amongst them are super luxury ones too.Get one soon .
0 1
Chathura Tuesday, 18 February 2025 05:05 PM
Your party and the Rajapaksa clan will single handedly help the economy buy purchasing these vehicles no matter what price they are at. So thank you in advance!
0 2
L Jayasingha Tuesday, 18 February 2025 05:30 PM
So what did you expect ? Dollar is rts.300 against the 190 in 2021. Anyway the import price is high. DO you want govt to reduce taxes to encourage imports of Cars when the country cant afford to pay its debts ?Open the flood gates to ruin the economy ? Ranil proposed it knowing he wouldn't win. This is the correct step. Don't just whine as usual. You are proving that you too belong to the same clan of rogues and fools.
0 3
DOT Tuesday, 18 February 2025 05:35 PM
So, what is the problem ? Those who can afford will buy! Let's develop our public transport properly.
0 4
Cassie Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:16 PM
Plenty of affluent people in Sri Lanka. Even otherwise middle class too will pay an arm and a leg in debt to buy a vehicle if they need it. Restrictions are not a way to develop a country.
0 3
Peter Perera Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:19 PM
Dr. Is this is the burning issue we have in the country at themoment. You are wasting so much time about vehicles when people don't have basic due to high cost of living. Not sure how this guy got his dr title .
0 5
sss Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:48 PM
More important questions are: Where are the dollars. Do we have to send more housemaids for these rupee rich people to buy cars? The other question is where is the infrastructure? All ready roads are packed with air pollution keep increasing
0 2
Krishan Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:49 PM
It is only impact the upper middle class. But ordinary Sri lankans don't worry about these prices. Car is a luxury item and we don't have enough room on the road. So whoever wants let them pay. It is a good strategy rather than ban the imports.
0 2
EMILY JOACK Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:54 PM
have you asked the question from NAMAL the looted money has to be spent
0 3
Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 18 February 2025 06:59 PM
Yes Dr Harsha, of course the youth who voted for NPP will not be able to afford the cars, but big businessmen, drug dealers and underworld contract killer bosses and their associates could very well afford it. All vehicles will be sold out even before they are cleared from the port.
1 5
Car Maniacs Tuesday, 18 February 2025 10:46 PM
Dr Harsha, you are in a different planet. What do you think of our Sri Lankan, even they don't have food, they want to show off, so whatever the price they will buy a car. Just go to all the banks, the Imports Departments are busier than ever, people opening LCs ( Letter of Credits) right and left to import cars/vehicles.
0 0
Sambo Wednesday, 19 February 2025 08:26 AM
So what do you expect, for the government to by them and sell it at half the price.
0 0
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