Import, Export Control Act to be submitted to parliament for approval

The regulations under the Import and Export Control Act will be submitted for parliament approval in due course after Cabinet nod for the same was given this week.

Approval for the gazette issued in September will be sought to pave the way for migrant workers to import electrical vehicles. The allowance is made by the government as a means to encourage Sri Lankans working overseas to remit foreign earnings via legal and formal channels into the country.

The gazetted Import and Export Control Regulations came under criticism when it was published recently with several expatriate workers raising concerns about the legalities of the importation of electric vehicles.

During the Cabinet briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said a decision was made to present the gazette to parliament for approval so that concerns regarding the same, as expressed by expatriate workers, can be addressed.

A decision was made by the government in August to allow Sri Lankans working abroad to import electric vehicles under a freshly launched scheme.

Those who have remitted US$ 20,000 or more between 1 May 2022 and 31 December 2022 will be able to obtain a permit to import an electric car. Those who remit US$ 3,000 or more between 1 May 2021 and 1 May 2022 will be allowed to import an electric two-wheeler.