SLASPA President Amal Piyatilake, Senior Vice President Suraj Dandeniya, Secretary Sunil Devasurendra, Media Coordinator Shashika De Silva, Head of Strategy and National Organiser Ravith Silva and Committee Member Rohantha Samarasinghe 

The Sri Lanka Automobile Service Providers Association (SLASPA), the apex body representing the country’s automobile industry, said it is fully committed to transforming Sri Lanka’s automobile manufacturing, repair and maintenance sector in a challenging 2022. 

Addressing the media recently, the representatives of the SLASPA further stressed that they would drive the industry body with an articulate vision to make the whole industry a pivotal economic cog amidst the impending macroeconomic challenges. 

The key elements of the SLASPA’s forward-looking 2022 vision include offering an excellent service on par with international standards to customers in the automobile repair and maintenance sector whilst clearing obstacles that hinder the forward march of 
the industry. 

The association further wishes to provide international-level training to professionals and all those engrossed in the industry to improve their skills and update their knowledge, attract modern global technology to this industry and proactively engage with the key stakeholders, including the government, to take the automobile manufacturing, repair and maintenance industry of Sri Lanka to greater heights.

Speaking at the press conference, SLASPA President Amal Piyatilake said, “The automobile repair industry in Sri Lanka has a history of more than 100 years. Given the present situation of our island nation, the SLSPA believes that our industry could play a key role as a fundamentally crucial component of the overall economy of Sri Lanka, helping the country to thrive in these unprecedented times. Against this backdrop, our clear-cut vision for 2022 will provide a window of opportunity to address and resolve longstanding common issues confronting the trade collectively. We will endeavour to ensure an efficient, courteous and expeditious service to clients of the members whilst improving the standards and quality of our workshops.”

Furthermore, the SLASPA will negotiate with government and non-government establishments and regulatory bodies on behalf of the members and address the need for skilled and trained staff to face the challenges in repairing modern motor vehicles. 

Having recognised the pivotal role they play in the industry, the Government of Sri Lanka had appointed two of their members into special Cabinet-approved committees that steer the developments of the local automobile repair service industry. Charted Automobile Engineer Ravith SIlva, Head of Strategy and National Organiser of the SLASPA, was appointed by the Industries Ministry to the Automobile Components Manufacturing and Assembly-Related Industry Committee as an advisory committee member. He was highly involved in the fabrication and upkeeping of the SOP, which were launched in March 2021 for local vehicle assembly and manufacturing. Additionally, Shashika De Silva, Media Coordinator of the SLASPA, is a member of the Trade Development Council of the Finance Ministry.

During the press conference, the SLASPA urged the local vehicle owners to seek the guidance of a professional automobile repair service centre that uses quality material and procedures. The association representatives stressed that the vehicle owners should not compromise quality over increasing repair service costs even in these turbulent times. It is of utmost importance to ensure 100 percent safety and the vehicle’s market value 
for everyone. 

“The present macroeconomic challenges caused by the pandemic have impacted the local automobile repair and maintenance industry. We see a price increase for every relatable aspect of the industry —from lubricants, body parts, material, fuel and other equipment costs to labour charges of technicians. This has resulted in vehicle owners compromising the quality and safety of their vehicles by choosing cheaper and low-quality auto repair and maintenance options due to price increases. Even amidst an economically-challenged period, the SLSPA does not encourage this. You put yourself and your loved ones in danger, if you try and save money on DIY repairs,” said SLASPA Secretary Sunil Devasurendra. 

Several disruptive trends and automotive industry challenges are poised to transform Sri Lanka’s automobile repair services industry’s outlook for 2022 and beyond. The SLASPA said that local auto repair shops that want to ensure tackling these disruptive trends and thrive in 2022 must begin to take steps now to prepare their shops and their staff for a future in which transformative trends will drive it. The association pointed out that for the local industry to sustain business continuity, three key factors will play a crucial role in 2022 and beyond: professionalism, quality processes and procedures and customer safety.

“To address these issues and sustain the industry’s momentum, the SLSPA recommends three key elements— professionalism, quality processes and procedures and customer safety—for all industry representatives to adhere to. We need to be professional about our business, especially the pricing. The industry needs to properly analyse the market trends, global pricing patterns and set benchmarks to impose proper price controls. And these price changes have to be properly communicated to customers to avoid less friction between the client and the service provider,” said Devasurendra further. 

Finally, the SLASPA announced that it had launched FAIR TRADE AUTO as a responsible organisation. It certifies any organisation that holds this logo on their invoices, policies and or workshop/garage is certified as an exemplary business with high levels of moral and technical soundness that protect the rights of the consumer, employee and environment well as local and international laws and regulations. During the press conference, the SLASPA urged the vehicle owners to look only for the SLASPA-certified workshops and in that, those who have Fair TRADE CERTIFICATION for quality vehicle repairs and maintenance.