Cabinet nod to import 164 vehicles for essential services

Amidst the foreign exchange crisis, the Government has decided to import 164 vehicles claiming they are required for essential services in containing COVID-19.

The proposal to this effect submitted by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday. The 164 vehicles include 52 water bowsers, 50 ambulances and 62 double cabs.

“This latest initiative isn’t linked to a previous proposal which entailed importing several hundred vehicles, including vehicles for Members of Parliament,” Co-Cabinet Spokesman and new Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma confirmed at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting briefing yesterday.

In May, a proposal was put forward by the Finance Ministry to permit importation of ‘limited’ vehicles in a cost-effective manner for MPs. However, following a public outcry over the privileged treatment, the Government halted the import of the luxury SUVs. 

The previous proposal was for an order of 227 luxury SUVs, 69 double cabs and 50 ambulances, despite there being a vehicle import ban in place for ordinary citizens as a result of the foreign currency crisis.

It is evident that the 50 ambulances that were part of the May proposal have been added in this week's Cabinet memorandum without a change.

In March 2020, the Government decided to suspend the importation of vehicles, as part of overall measures to manage foreign reserves better amid the COVID pandemic.