Over 300 vehicles stuck at ports amid import regulation dispute
- CNL Reporter
- July 14, 2025
- News
- Vehicles
- 0 Comments
With the lifting of vehicle import restrictions, over 300 vehicles are reportedly stuck at ports as vehicle importers are unable to release them due to alleged violations of import control regulations.
Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) President Prasad Manage said that a Customs implementation of a 2013 regulation had led to the blockage.“This gazette had not been in use for 12 years. The matter has risen due to the opening of crossborder Letters of Credit (LCs) in hubs through which we import vehicles,” he said.
He explained that vehicles that were imported from either Japan or Australia were imported to the country through suppliers based off Dubai or Singapore where the LCs were opened.The importers have written to the Ministry of Finance asking for a response and resolution to their problem.
If the issue is not resolved by the next two weeks, Manage said that they would look into taking legal action.“A total of 300 vehicles are stuck at the port and there are 200 more on the way,” he added.
However, Sri Lanka Customs Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda said that the importers had violated import control regulations in importing vehicles to the country.
