Application to obtain e-vehicles for ex-pats made public

The Government has made public the application to obtain an electric vehicle for Sri Lankan expatriates.

The facility is available for Sri Lankan expatriates who are remitting funds via formal banking channels.

In July, the Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara to issue licenses to import electric vehicles equivalent to 50% of remittances transmitted via formal banking channels.

As per the circular, those who had remitted over $ 3,000 from 1 May to 30 April 2023 are eligible to import an electric motorcycle equivalent to 50% of remittances transmitted via the formal banking system. 

In addition, expatriates who have remitted over $ 20,000 from 1 May to 31 December, are allowed to import an electric vehicle. 

On 31 August, the Government issued a circular on the electric vehicles import scheme for Sri Lankan employees working overseas. The application can be downloaded via Labour Ministry’s official website or https://si.labourmin.gov.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02.2022-Application-Sinhala.pdf 

The Cabinet also approved the proposal submitted by Minister Nanayakkara to increase the duty-free quota available at the airport to $ 6,550 for Sri Lankan expatriates who transferred remittances via formal banking channels. The gazette notification for that will be issued soon.