In a significant move, State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, has revealed plans to issue a Gazette notification tonight, relaxing import restrictions on all items except vehicles. This announcement comes as a relief to consumers, as earlier in September, the state minister had hinted at the lifting of restrictions on imported goods, excluding vehicles, in October, aiming to stabilize prices.
The imposed restrictions had led to a noticeable surge in the prices of certain goods due to inadequate supply to meet the rising demand. In a bid to further address this issue, on August 14, the government introduced a special Gazette notification, easing restrictions on importing public transport buses and special-purpose heavy vehicles such as tankers, bowsers, and fire trucks.
Moreover, the government has taken the decision to release heavy vehicles that were imported during the restricted period and are still pending clearance at ports. This marks a significant departure from the stringent import policies put in place in March 2020.
However, it’s important to note that while restrictions on commercial vehicles are being eased, import bans on passenger vehicles are expected to remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
