The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association is concerned over the recent decision by the government, where it allowed the assembling of motor vehicles locally by using imported used spare parts.
This move by the authorities, the Association, the apex body representing the manufacturers of the global automobile brands in Sri Lanka says will jeopardize the safety of motorists, the general public and also contravenes an existing customs regulation, which only permits the importation of vehicles that has been used up to a maximum of 3 years, from the date of 1st registration.
The move also contradicts the Government’s policy, which encourages the re-export of motor vehicles that has been used for a period of maximum of five years in Sri Lanka to reduce the impact to the environment .
The danger of allowing this to go ahead is that the unsuspecting motor vehicle buyer would not know the year of manufacture of these so-called assembled vehicles and a car manufactured 10 years ago can be issued with the latest registration number plates from the RMV.
A 10 year old car will also not have the relevant spare parts necessary for repairs and maintenance of a vehicle as the guarantee of spare parts from the manufacturer is for only valid between 10-15 years from the date of manufacture.
In the event of a major accident, the Engine number and the Chassis number would not be able to be related to manufacturers’ records, thereby even causing security concerns. The status of registration will also be ambiguous, and will therefore, cause further complications legally.
The Association also believes such a move would create environmental and safety issues and also contradicts the government’s long-term policy of standardizing vehicles with brand-new vehicle imports.
Any decision taken in extending the life of obsolete vehicles assembled from used spare parts could be a strain on the country’s balance sheet. Therefore all citizens will have to bear the negative effects of this action.
Therefore, the CMTA requests the intervention of His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena and the Honorable Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to look into this matter and take an appropriate action to rectify the issue.
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