Government has issued an extraordinary gazette notification that lifts the barriers on approximately 400 vehicles previously held at the port.
These vehicles, which were imported from Japan, had been stuck in customs due to complications surrounding required export inspection certificates. The new gazette notification grants authority to Bureau Veritas, an inspection agency, to certify the imported vehicles, resolving the issues that had delayed their release.
The move follows the recent decision by the Sri Lankan government to lift restrictions on vehicle imports, a policy change that comes after a prolonged halt in vehicle imports due to the country's economic crisis. In 2021, the government suspended vehicle imports as part of efforts to conserve foreign currency during a challenging period.
However, in a shift towards economic recovery, the government announced the resumption of vehicle imports for personal use starting February 1, 2025. Despite this, around 400 vehicles remained stuck at customs due to issues with the necessary export inspection certificates.
With the gazette notification, the hurdles preventing the clearance of these vehicles have now been cleared, bringing relief to vehicle owners and importers alike. The clearance of these vehicles is expected to provide a boost to the auto industry and improve consumer access to imported vehicles in Sri Lanka.
