Probe launched over illicit import of electric vehicles under migrant worker scheme

•  Customs sized seven vehicles   

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.