Sri Lanka Extends Deadline for Expatriate Workers to Import Electric Vehicles Based on Foreign Remittances until August 2023, Minister Announces

Sri Lankan expatriate workers have been given an extension until the end of August 2023 to import electric vehicles based on their foreign remittances, according to the Minister of Labour & Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara. The initial period allowed for the imports was May 2022 to December 31, 2022.

During an event hosted by the Overland Automobile Institute, Minister Nanayakkara revealed that the government plans to provide electric vehicle import licenses to individuals who bring dollars into the country on a private basis. He stated that the government had taken measures to provide benefits to migrant workers to increase the country’s depleted forex reserves during the economic crisis last year.

Although the initiative was delayed due to opposition from some officials, the President and the Cabinet of Ministers gave the green light to proceed with the pilot project, Nanayakkara said. He also refuted claims that the initiative was a political gimmick and stated that the government did not support populist politics.

In line with the government’s commitment to renewable energy and green energy sources, only electric vehicles will be imported for the state sector in the future, the minister added.