CMTA wants vehicles tax hike revoked; duty free permits suspended

The Ceylon Motor Traders Association is to request the Government to reconsider the recent sharp hike in taxes on import of motor vehicles.

CMTA Chairman Tilak Gunasekera has said that the association would call on the Government to reconsider the prohibitive taxes imposed on imported vehicles, Colombo Page reported.

He had said the increase of taxes would also cause an escalation of prices of spare parts.

Gunasekera further said that the Government should also suspend the duty free permits given to politicians and public sector executives since they contribute immensely to the outflow of foreign currency.

He pointed out that the price of a lowest priced car would go up by Rs. 500,000, a trishaw by Rs. 150,000 and a motorcycle by Rs. 75,000 due to the increase of duties.

Vehicle sales jumped when the Government slashed the import duty in June 2010 and most auto dealers had recorded considerable growth in sales.