President Ranil Wickremesinghe has highlighted the use of electric vehicles in Sri Lanka in his speech on the Interim Budget 2022 in Parliament today.
However, the President did not address the current ban imposed on the importation of vehicles.
Following are the proposals with regard to vehicles in the Interim budget 2022:
1. The purchase of fossil fuel-based vehicles for public sector will be suspended from hereafter as a government policy.
- As per this policy, only electric-powered vehicles will be purchased for the
use of the public sector in the future and the private sector will also be
encouraged to use electric vehicles.
- In purchasing vehicles for the public sector, suitable categories of vehicles are
decided on the basis of the efficiency and prices of the vehicles. This proposal
will be implemented step by step and will be completed by 01st January 2026.
2. Manufacture of electric bicycles
- Manufacturing of electric bicycles should be encouraged as a local industry
with a view to reducing fossil fuel consumption.
- Therefore, tax concessions will be provided for imported accessories/parts
required in the manufacture of electric bicycles locally with more than 50
percent value addition. (NewsWire)