Economic Development Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera told Parliament that revenue from vehicle imports reached Rs. 904 billion, compared to the original estimate of Rs. 441 billion.
JB Securities Ltd. Managing Director Murtaza Jafferjee said taxes collected on vehicle imports alone amounted to roughly Rs. 905 billion equivalent to around 2.7% of GDP. He noted that vehicle-related taxes accounted for over 40% of nominal GDP growth and approximately 15% of real GDP growth in the third quarter, making the sector the single largest contributor to economic expansion during the period.
Data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) show vehicle imports rose to $ 281 million in November 2025, second only to the September peak of $ 286 million. Cumulative vehicle imports reached $ 1.7 billion in the first 11 months of the year, with total transport equipment and personal vehicle imports projected to reach about $ 2.1 billion for the full year.
Responding to concerns over foreign exchange pressures, Jafferjee said vehicle imports accounted for just 12.86% of current account outflows, while reserve accumulation exceeded $ 200 million in November. He added that strong remittance inflows and peak tourism earnings were expected to further support the external position.
JB Securities estimates total industry turnover in 2025 at approximately Rs. 1.688 trillion — nearly 5% of GDP — underscoring the scale of activity generated by the sector.
