The Secretary of the Lanka Vehicle Importers Association, Prasad Kulatunga, has highlighted delays in decision-making related to the Finance Ministry, which falls under the President’s purview. He suggested appointing a Deputy Minister of Finance to handle urgent matters efficiently and prevent such delays.
Speaking at the association’s recent annual general meeting, Kulatunga stated that these delays have significantly impacted vehicle importers, making it difficult to resolve their issues. He emphasized that the situation has been evident in recent experiences concerning vehicle imports.
Indika Sampath Merenchige, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers Association, also addressed the gathering, stating:
“Vehicle imports have resumed after five years, but the country operates by assigning responsibilities to officials rather than ministers. Ministers do not take direct responsibility, and the President is extremely busy. Deputy Ministers have not taken action on this issue, and officials are proceeding cautiously and slowly. The Ministry of Finance and Customs attempted to resolve the matter quickly, but it was unsuccessful.
There are significant issues regarding vehicle classification, leading to changes in taxes. However, if we remain optimistic, these problems should be resolved soon, allowing the vehicle import industry to recover. Moving forward, we hope for a smoother process and the ability to prevent illegal activities while ensuring proper action is taken.”
