The Hon. Dharmapriya Dissanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we are addressing vehicle import taxation. Vehicle imports restarted on 1 February 2025, including battery-powered vehicles alongside petrol, diesel, and hybrids. The proliferation of “other” classifications created difficulty, as those vehicles could not be released under existing schedules. Hence, by Gazette 2434/04 of 28 April 2025, we introduced a new framework.

¶ 02 Vehicle imports had been halted for nearly five years under the previous government. Within months of assuming office, we restarted imports. Some Opposition Members warned the economy would collapse. They brought a ruined economy, normalized by theft and corruption. They feared imports would drain reserves. Their dire predictions have not materialized; we have a stable administration and a capable Cabinet.

¶ 03 Attempts to revive communalism are being made by some in the North-East; they will fail. Our path is steady. As for protests and strikes, these are theatrics. The public are with the Government, and confidence is rising. The Opposition’s weekly manufactured crises show their lack of substance. We are bringing numerous regulations and circulars for development and the future; please support them.