By Skandha Gunasekara
The Vehicle Importers’ Association was awaiting an opportunity to meet with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to inform him of the loss in foreign exchange as a result of the vehicle import ban.
Vehicle Importers’ Association President Sirishantha Gamage said they hoped to have a meeting with the President by the end of the month.
“We have requested to see the President and have a discussion over the vehicle import ban, but because of the coronavirus situation it has been delayed. We hope we can meet him by the end of November,” he said.
He said the President needed to be informed that foreign exchange losses were higher than what is expected to be saved by imposing the ban.
“Authorities believe that around Rs. 1 billion of foreign exchange would be saved by banning vehicle imports. But in fact, the country is losing about Rs. 2 billion as a direct result of the ban.”
“We have requested to see the President and have a discussion over the vehicle import ban, but because of the coronavirus situation it has been delayed. We hope we can meet him by the end of November,” he said.
He said the President needed to be informed that foreign exchange losses were higher than what is expected to be saved by imposing the ban.
“Authorities believe that around Rs. 1 billion of foreign exchange would be saved by banning vehicle imports. But in fact, the country is losing about Rs. 2 billion as a direct result of the ban.”