24 October 2023 12:00 am Views - 90
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
Customs authorities have seized seven vehicles suspected of being illicitly imported using electronic vehicle import licenses meant for migrant workers,
State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.
It was reported that 119 electric vehicles have been imported by misusing the facility for migrant workers to import electrical vehicles.”
119 vehicles have been imported to Sri Lanka from the date of the relevant permission to October 16, and 75 of them have been imported by the same company,” the State Minster said.
This illicit activity has resulted in an estimated loss of approximately Rs 35 billion in government revenue.
Investigations are currently underway to track down the vehicles suspected of having been sold illegally.
Siyambalapitiya emphasised that these investigations focus on four key aspects, undervaluation,
misappropriation, payment of taxes to the Inland Revenue Department, and verifying if the respective vehicles were genuinely purchased with foreign workers’ funds.