Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath announced today (06) that a formal investigation will be launched into serious allegations of corruption involving the misuse of electric vehicle import rights with tariff concessions. Originally intended as a tribute to foreign workers, these concessions have allegedly been exploited for financial gain.
Herath’s remarks came in response to a journalist’s question regarding a scheme that reportedly deceives overseas domestic workers, particularly those employed in the Middle East. Many of these workers, who have endured years of hardship abroad, are being paid a sum of money to import high-end electric vehicles into the country under their names.
“The initiative was originally designed to allow foreign workers to import electric vehicles through a structured method. However, numerous irregularities have emerged,” Herath said. “I have addressed these issues extensively in the Finance Committee and the Ways and Means Committee of Parliament. Reports indicate that vehicles are being imported with undervalued assessments and even registered in other countries.”
Herath noted that a substantial number of these imported vehicles are now on sale across various locations. Recently, the Ministry of Finance issued a gazette requiring these vehicles to be registered by September 30th, stating that registration would not be permitted after this date. This has led to a dilemma for owners, as even legally purchased vehicles are now left unregistered, raising concerns over the integrity of the import and sale process.
“A thorough investigation will be conducted,” Herath assured. “It is up to the Ministry of Finance to decide whether unregistered vehicles still in sales establishments may be registered after the deadline. In some cases, the funds used to import these vehicles were not directly paid by the foreign workers; instead, money was routed back to them after the transactions were completed, with the vehicles then being handed over to others. We are committed to investigating these practices fully,” he concluded.
