Govt considers double cab imports for MPs, state institutions

No final decision is taken yet  

The government is, dealing with vehicle import relaxation cautiously since it cannot afford a serious drain on foreign reserves 

By Kelum Bandara  

The government considers the import of double cabs for the use of parliamentarians and government officials in the future, but a final decision has not yet been taken, a Minister said yesterday.  

The current government, led by the National People’s Power (NPP), stopped issuing permits for MPs to import vehicles without customs duty. In the past, MPs either imported expensive luxury vehicles using such permits. Or else, they were used to transfer these permits to third parties for charges amounting to millions of rupees.  

However, the government decided to assign a vehicle to each MP. So far, vehicles have not been allocated to MPs by the government.  

Asked about vehicles, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala who is also in charge of parliamentary affairs said that the government mulls the import of double cabs for the use of MPs and government institutions.  

“This is the idea we have at the moment. However, we have not decided when it will be done. We don’t know whether it will be done this year or next year,” he said.   

The new government has restricted a number of facilities for MPs. An MP is now supposed to pay Rs.2000 for two meals- breakfast, lunch- and evening snacks being served at the parliamentary cafeteria. It also reduced the value of insurance cover for MPs. It is also planning to scrap pension benefits for MPs and former Heads of State at the moment.  

Sri Lanka relaxed a ban on some vehicle imports starting from February 1, 2025.  

The imports of buses, trucks and utility vehicles were allowed to resume with plans for lifting restrictions on other vehicle imports later.   

Sri Lanka imposed a ban on vehicle imports in 2020 due to constraints on foreign exchange. The country also faced its worst ever economic crisis in 2022.  

The current government is, however, dealing with vehicle import relaxation cautiously since it cannot afford a serious drain on foreign reserves.