Cabinet approves SOP for vehicle component manufacturing and assembling

The Cabinet of Ministers this week granted approval to implement the provisions of the proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for manufacturing, assembling and manufacturing of spare parts of vehicles in Sri Lanka, which was lobbied by the country’s Automotive Component Manufacturers, led by the Sri Lanka Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (SLACMA).

On Monday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa for the implementation of provisions, including the proposed SOP titled ‘Standard Operating Procedure inclusive of Local Value Addition Matrix’, which is expected to set the technical and regulatory requirements of the automobile and component manufacturing industry in the country. 

The previous government initiated the dialogue among stakeholders in order to develop and finalise the SOP for the industry in 2018, as a result of continuous lobbing of the industry, led by the SLACMA.

T h e G o v e r n m e n t I n f o r m a t i o n Department noted that the SOP has been developed with the assistance of relevant government authorities and the consent of industrialists along with the assistance of experts, followed by extended studies on the procedures of the motor vehicle industry.

The industry is currently seeking the component classification from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which is regarded to be the highest standard research organisation and the certification body in South East Asia, for Sri Lanka’s vehicle component manufacturers to enter into high-potential markets across the globe.

According to the SLACMA, Sri Lankan component manufacturing has entered the global supply chain through the technical collaboration between Ideal Auto Seating and MSKH India, a joint venture of Magna Worldwide, the largest automotive component manufacturer in the world.

Sri Lanka has over 300 automotive c o m p o n e n t m a n u f a c t u r e r s , w h o manufacture tyres, batteries, rubber components, including bushes, exhaust systems, seats and seating components, radiators, bumpers and body interior panels, centre consoles, suspension components, truck trailers, clutch systems, HVAC systems, complete dashboard systems, steering racks, including conversion kits, cables, wire harness, oil filters, air filters, head lights and truck bodies/bowser/tractor trailers.