Sri Lanka, Feb. 5 -- Advocata warns revival of vehicle permits threatens governance credibility, public trust and economic reform and strongly cautions against government consideration to allow vehicle imports for high-ranking government officials who received permits upon retirement.
According to statements in Parliament, 1,900 permits have already been issued under this concessional scheme for senior officials, with 563 permits issued in 2025 alone. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens endure an extended vehicle import ban and some of the highest effective taxes on personal transport vehicles in the world.
During the presentation of the 2026 Budget Proposal, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared: "There will be no permits. The permit cult...