Finance Ministry not favouring electric vehicles?

March, 25, 2014

As reported by AdaderanaBiz yesterday, members of the Sri Lanka Motor Vehicle Importers’ Association met Finance Ministry officials for discussions last evening in a bid to popularize fully electrically operated vehicles in Sri Lanka.

During these discussions, the vehicle importers had requested government assistance to encourage prospective buyers to go in for these vehicles.

Towards this objective, the Sri Lanka Motor Vehicle Importers’ Association has a requested for the setting up of a loan scheme for such motor vehicle owners to purchase the necessary equipment for them to re-charge their vehicles at home using solar power chargers.

Representatives of the association had also requested government assistance for a concessionary electricity tariff from 11.00 pm to 05.00 am for the re-charging of these vehicles and also to set up re-charging facilities at 50 Ceypetco fuel sheds island-wide.

In addition, the motor vehicle importers had also requested that the existing 38 percent import tax for such vehicles be reduced to 10 percent and revenue licenses to be provided at a concessionary rate.

However, AdaderanaBiz learns that the Finance Ministry officials had not shown any clear or favourable response to this proposal by the Sri Lanka Motor Vehicle Importers’ Association.