Why Ravi urges stopping vehicles being imported from Japan

Reason why Ravi temporarily stopped ....

imports of vehicles from Japan

As a result of a discussion conducted by Minister Ravi Karunanayaka, Minister of Finance, when he was on a sojourn in Japan he had asked a group of businessmen who import vehicles from Japan to limit vehicles being imported to Sri Lanka until such time the budget of Sri Lanka is launched, for a

period of 43 days. The reason for this was not evident on face value as such. However, as reported, he had in that instance introduced a fresh process and after its implementation, Japanese businessmen would be afforded an opportunity where they would be able to reap better rewards.

According to what the Minister says, the rate of the dollar which has gone up presently is expected to drop as Rs. 130. As such, those who are involved in importing vehicles from Japan as well as those who export, stand for benefit. Apart from from this new programme that has been introduced, those who import Japanese vehicles in bulk quantity at once would be afforded a special consolation for an extra vehicle, it is reported. All such proposals are proposed to be forwarded at the next budget. The Minister has also mentioned about making a change in the methodology in the manner of importing the vehicle to the market. He has also announced that in future, imports of Japanese vehicles would be carried out on a systematic basis according to a stabilised basis of a number of years.

During the course of this discussion another point that he brought out was the fact that while it is seen that there is lack of space in urban roads of Sri Lanka because of bringing vehicles continuously it has contributed towards a chaotic situation. He also pointed out that without roads being expanded and vehicles being imported it has resulted in congestion in the traffic and how because of about 72000 vehicles per month is being added to the roads in the country, steps have been taken to employ a programme to control this situation in future.