rupasinghe

NZer, I think people and forwarding me because either they don't have a backbone to endorse my request simply as 'declined', or because there is a provision for this so they can not do that but they are hiding that provision from me leaving it for me to find out. About the country being infected with cars, this would only be possible if suddenly a flood of foreigners decided to come to Sri Lanka and bring their personally owned vehicle with them as the Carnet permit is only issued to a foreigner. They then need to decided to settle down in the country permanently and take up residency here. It is only in this exceptional situation that the issuing authority at origin will grant permission. I am not sure how many people would fit in to this category, so I don't really see flood gates being opened.

Interesting observation The thing is I don't really know the procedure, I am going from office to office trying to find out how to do it, and they keep 'forwarding' me. The fact that no one has declined my request and that the Carnet issuing authority has given permission makes me think it is possible. Customs kinda agreed and also calculated the duty for me but even they haven't told me yes or no. Instead, it is always "you need to forward this to ABC for approval" and then it keeps repeating sometimes going back to the original department! This is why I posted here to find out if anyone has done this so they can guide me in the right direction. The cars that are being hunt down by Customs are the ones that have some illegality such as "the carnet holder 'gave' it to his cousin and is abroad at the moment", or the vehicle has disappeared but there is no record of it being sent back.

Many thanks to your replies. I think I need to clarify a few points. First to Crosswind, no, it not illegal and that is not the advice I am looking for. I have already been offered illegal methods by various touts to do this but I am not interested in that. I have written to the Carnet issuing authority and they have given me official confirmation that they have 'no objection' to registering the vehicle here upon payment of the necessary levies. Then to Priyanka: First and foremost, this vehicle was indeed bought with my hard earned money earned abroad and has been my loving car which is now 9 years old. It has sentimental values to me so I hate to part with it. Customs have quoted me over 4 million in taxes which I am willing pay, so this is certainly not a cheap method of obtaining a car. People are too quick to jump the gun and to assume that everyone is trying to do something illegal or use a short cut. Also, this is not a luxury car and even if it was, I would have to pay an additional luxury tax on top too. But as Priyanka mentioned, there is apparently a large scale racket where people bring down vehicles on Carnets and get a local plate using illegal methods thereby cheating on the revenue due to the state. But I am seeking permission to PAY the relevant levies applicable and keep the vehicle and not to go through the illegal touts. But this seems to be a grey area and my application is being ball-passed from one authority to another: Customs, Import Controller, RMV etc. Yet no one has declined my request. That is why I approached this forum to find out if anyone could throw some light. I will update the forum if I hear any news.

Hi all, Does any one know if a vehicle temporary imported using a Carnet permit can be registered in Sri Lanka after paying the relevant levies?? Am I the first to seek this, or are you aware of any vehicles that were allowed to be registered, having initially been brought to Sri Lanka on a temporary carnet permit?