Govt. further extends timeline on electric vehicles import scheme for migrant workers

Tuesday, 4 April 2023 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said the Government has decided to further extend the timeline issued to allow Sri Lankans working abroad to import electric vehicles till the end of August 2023.

The objective of the Government move was to boost foreign exchange inflows via the banking system, to overcome the ongoing foreign exchange crisis and to appreciate the contribution made to the national economy by expatriates to reduce foreign currency scarcity.

Previously, the timeline eligible to import two-wheeler electric vehicles for expatriate workers who remitted over $ 3,000 was from 1 May to 30 April 2023, whilst those who have remitted over $ 20,000 from 1 May to 31 December 2022 were permitted to import a vehicle equivalent to 50% of remittances transmitted via the formal banking system.

“Expatriate workers did not remit dollars to the country as they had trust issues and because they can get better currency rates by sending money through informal channels such as Undiyal. To change that, the Government introduced a fresh scheme to allow Sri Lankan migrant workers to import electric vehicles,” he added.

Although the initiative got delayed due to certain officials who adamantly opposed the initiative, Minister Nanayakkara said the President and the Cabinet of Ministers fully supported proceeding with the implementation of the pilot project to allow migrant workers to import electric vehicles.

The Minister denied claims by certain groups that this initiative is just another ‘political gimmick’, adding that the incumbent Government does not endorse populist politics.

Reiterating the Government’s willingness to support renewable energy and green energy sources, said only electric vehicles would be imported for the State sector in the future.

Minister Nanayakkara also confirmed that no decision has been taken yet to import vehicles.

In 2020, the Government decided to restrict vehicle imports, amidst the foreign exchange crisis and the license to import these electric vehicles will be issued ‘only’ to migrant workers who send money legally through the banking system.