GMOA wants more tax relief for duty-free vehicle imports midst COVID-19 crisis

• Writes to PM requesting additional relief based on representations made by members
• Says higher exchange rates led to increase in import taxes

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has written to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also the Minister of Finance requesting financial relief to professionals including doctors when importing a vehicle using the duty-free concessionary vehicle permit scheme.

GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge has said the request is based on representations made by many of its members that the amount to be paid as the import tax at present has increased considerably due to recent unexpected developments in exchange rates of foreign currency.

Due to this unfavourable situation, most of them have to pay an additional luxury tax as well, Dr. Aluthge said.

“Some of them have informed us that they have to pay nearly an additional Rs. 1 million to import a reasonable good vehicle for their personal use, which they claim is unbearable during this period of crisis,” the letter said.

The GMOA requested the Prime Minister to consider the request favourably and grant a reasonable additional tax relief to professionals including doctors serving in the Government sector as a way of financial relief.