Srilanka, May 13 -- Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata raised concerns about high taxation in Sri Lanka on automobile imports from Japan.

Delivering his remarks at a roundtable meeting last week, the ambassador said there is high taxation on electric vehicles being imported from Japan compared to those coming from another country. In case Sri Lanka considers a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan, he said high taxation on vehicles from Japan should be discussed.

However, he said Japan is not prepared for an FTA with Sri Lanka merely for the sake of having one or for its sentimental value. Asserting that no such proposal for a trade deal had been made by Sri Lanka, he said an FTA between the two countries would be realistic based on mutu...