Instead of threatening Sri Lankan vehicle importers who are in a quandary due to the increase of taxes on vehicle imports that some 2,000 vehicles imported and currently stuck at the Hambantota port would be auctioned, it is more important for the government to provide some sort of relief to the importers, said the chairman of the Sri Lanka Motor Vehicle Importers’ Association.

Sri Lanka Motor Vehicle Importers’ Association chairman Indika Sampath Merinchige told www.adaderanabiz.lk that due to the duties imposed on vehicle imports through the recent interim budget the prices of motor vehicles had increased by some Rs. 01 million overnight.

“By now around 75 per cent of the imported vehicles have been released. Only around 25 per cent of this lot remains at the Hambantota port. Saying that these would be auctioned is unreasonable. What the government has to do is provide some relief to the importers of these vehicles,” said Merinchige while adding that the Ports Authority has no right to auction any vehicles as it wished but this has to be notified to the public thrice before it is done.

Several representatives of the Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers’ Association moved the Appeal Court challenging Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s order to remove the depreciation tax formula and to impose the brand new vehicle taxes when importing vehicles.

Lawyer K. Deekiriwewa told www.adaderanabiz .lk that the Appeal Court took up this appeal today (12 March) and issued notices on six including Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Secretary to the Treasury, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury and Director General of Customs as respondents.

Lawyer Deekiriwewa added that several representatives of the Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers’ Association had challenged the Finance Minister’s directive while claiming that the particular Gazette notification of 10 February had not received Cabinet approval and that the Finance Minister does not have the authority to take any policy decisions.

Hence, they had moved court to annul the particular Gazette notification.

The Appeal Court issued notice since there is a case in consideration and that they have to respond to court on 28 March, said Lawyer Deekiriwewa.