Vehicle Import Restrictions to be Lifted!

sathyajithj99 · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 1:42 AM, iRage said:

Are there any small engined CRVs coming in (the smaller engine capacity is the main reason why the XTrail is cheaper than the others)?

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CRVs are 1.5L turbos. Since Xtrail is a hybrid (the government thinks otherwise) hoped it taxed less even with a 1.5L engine.

But now everything is paused.

Noobdriver · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 1:52 AM, iRage said:

The new baby Kias are actually looking promising. Seems like they are decent performers as well.
The 1L Yaris is still a lethargic dog but in a high trim it is actually a decent city car (rent or borrow a larger engine car to leave the city )

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You mean a Picanto?

sathyajithj99 · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 12:05 PM, Noobdriver said:

You mean a Picanto?

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Also Sonet, Seltos and Stonic

Noobdriver · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 1:12 PM, sathyajithj99 said:

Also Sonet, Seltos and Stonic

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Icl, all the Kias look very tacky. But also, most new cars look straight from a Sci-Fi movie, so weird. 2010-2019 had the best looking cars.

kush · March 25

On 3/24/2025 at 10:16 PM, Noobdriver said:

What's everyone's opinion on the best bang-for-the-buck (Sub 12 million) family car?

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I would say Suzuki Fronx, Honda City or any 1.0 L Turbo any thing else too expensive.

Hyaenidae · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 2:31 PM, kush said:

I would say Suzuki Fronx, Honda City or any 1.0 L Turbo any thing else too expensive.

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City's not it, got the dreaded wet timing belt AFAIK

Gummybr · March 25

On 3/24/2025 at 1:48 PM, sathyajithj99 said:

Looks like there's an issue in impoting vehicles like Nissan Xtrail epower, note, Toyota Raize hybrid which have an engine that acts as a generator and not engaged directly in turning the wheels.

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Sorry guys I don't agree with these fellows on this. Tell me why didn't they import the old Note as an electric and imported it as a hybrid?

The reason is in the hs classification it clearly states that it is deemed an electric only if it's charged by an external source ie: from the grid. If you argue about the i3 and any car that comes with a range extender it is deemed an electric as they have an external charging socket to charge the battery.

It's just these unscrupulous importers are trying their best to fit in non electric cars into electric and reduce the duty and luxury tax.

What does the badge or manufacturer says? Do they say fully electric?

Thoughts.

Gummybr · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 1:23 PM, Noobdriver said:

Icl, all the Kias look very tacky. But also, most new cars look straight from a Sci-Fi movie, so weird. 2010-2019 had the best looking cars.

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The new Kia's look good, but am not conversant on the smaller engines. The Cerato GT is a looker so are the new Hyundai's i30N anyone? Sri Lanka won't get them fun cars feel sorry.

Gummybr · March 25

On 3/25/2025 at 2:31 PM, kush said:

I would say Suzuki Fronx, Honda City or any 1.0 L Turbo any thing else too expensive.

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I saw someone advertise a Nissan car with a 1000cc engine on FB.

sathyajithj99 · Wednesday at 12:54 AM

On 3/25/2025 at 8:56 PM, Gummybr said:

I saw someone advertise a Nissan car with a 1000cc engine on FB.

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Nissan Almera

iRage · Wednesday at 01:26 PM

On 3/25/2025 at 12:05 PM, Noobdriver said:

You mean a Picanto?

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Plus wasn't there a small crossover that was recently launched starting at 9.8 or something ?

Also, the Hyundais I suppose.

The reason I am bringing these up because it is something like this with the dealer backing or a so-called-zero mileage Raize or Yaris or something through a guy who has no idea what they are selling (let's be honest looking at all the adverts around 90% of these importers have no idea what they are selling and I don't think they have the slightest idea how to provide proper warranty backing for these cars...and trust me they need them. There are constant software updates, recalls, things going wrong with all these electronic gizmos).

You could also look in to what the agents have. But like someone else mentioned I would stay away from the small engined Hondas due to the wet belt.

On 3/25/2025 at 1:23 PM, Noobdriver said:

all the Kias look very tacky.

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SIgn of the times and the designs do not age too well. Only a very few car designs these days will age gracefully.

On 3/25/2025 at 8:37 PM, Gummybr said:

The reason is in the hs classification it clearly states that it is deemed an electric only if it's charged by an external source ie: from the grid.

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The issue is our officials do not understand the language. Even the whole muck up with Year of Manufacture vs Year of FIrst Reg is because some pundit figured out they knew something better.

As for the importers...all the muck-ups that benefit them they keep quiet about and the muck ups that eat in to their profit is the end of the world (e.g. the whole 85% of MSRP estimation...a lot of the so called brand new cars these importers buy at inflated prices, like the LC250 - diesel VX is 6.8 mil at Toyota dealer but 8.5 - 9.0 mil at auction and 3rd party dealers, all come in conveniently undervalued at 85% of 6.8mil-ish plus a bit more).

On 3/25/2025 at 8:37 PM, Gummybr said:

It's just these unscrupulous importers are trying their best to fit in non electric cars into electric and reduce the duty and luxury tax

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I think it is the other way around...because of the small engine capacity bringing it in as a Hybrid lessens the taxes but the government insists that it should be an electric vehicle.

sathyajithj99 · Wednesday at 03:12 PM

On 3/26/2025 at 1:26 PM, iRage said:

Plus wasn't there a small crossover that was recently launched starting at 9.8 or something ?

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I have mentioned that in one of my earlier post. It's Sonet

Gummybr · Wednesday at 08:31 PM

On 3/26/2025 at 1:26 PM, iRage said:

The reason I am bringing these up because it is something like this with the dealer backing or a so-called-zero mileage Raize or Yaris or something through a guy who has no idea what they are selling (let's be honest looking at all the adverts around 90% of these importers have no idea what they are selling and I don't think they have the slightest idea how to provide proper warranty backing for these cars...and trust me they need them. There are constant software updates, recalls, things going wrong with all these electronic gizmos).

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Nah they will not know what to do and tell the buyers, speak to agent if there is an issue and that they will sort them out. Have seen this throughout specially when the vehicles started becoming complicated. They make the money and wash their hands off.

On 3/26/2025 at 1:26 PM, iRage said:

The issue is our officials do not understand the language. Even the whole muck up with Year of Manufacture vs Year of FIrst Reg is because some pundit figured out they knew something better.

As for the importers...all the muck-ups that benefit them they keep quiet about and the muck ups that eat in to their profit is the end of the world (e.g. the whole 85% of MSRP estimation...a lot of the so called brand new cars these importers buy at inflated prices, like the LC250 - diesel VX is 6.8 mil at Toyota dealer but 8.5 - 9.0 mil at auction and 3rd party dealers, all come in conveniently undervalued at 85% of 6.8mil-ish plus a bit more).

I think it is the other way around...because of the small engine capacity bringing it in as a Hybrid lessens the taxes but the government insists that it should be an electric vehicle.

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Nope the reason is the duty on a 1.5l hybrid or a petrol is more than the duty on a 100kW motor also you get the luxury tax benefit.

Also keep in mind back in 2018/19 customs did away with the Suzuki Wagon R and Alto Hybrids and asked importers to pay the normal petrol duty. The reason was they cannot be classified as hybrids according to the HS classification. How I know this? I went to customs to iron out the issue of people paying hybrid duty on the C classes when they started coming with the 48v battery system. The guys had all he information and the conclusion was that the 48v cannot be deemed hybrid (there was a huge uproar with the dealers at the time saying it's unfair similar to the hybrid vs electric) and in the same way the Wagon R and the Alto hybrids are not hybrids as they do not have electrical propulsion and acts as a support only. I remember the wagon r would only creep forward in ev when you let go of the brake from a stand still and petrol engine would jump in as soon as you touch the accelerator. Same with the 48v system on the Mercs (now everything comes with a 48v battery)

Skyline R33 · Thursday at 04:28 AM

Guys, I live down under and would like to send my dad a car. Currently he has a 1997 CR51 and would like him to have something more comfortable. Has anyone sent cars from Australia or know anyone who has. Since I will be paying for it in AUD I will not need to open an LC. How does this work?

iRage · Thursday at 04:40 AM

On 3/26/2025 at 8:31 PM, Gummybr said:

Nah they will not know what to do and tell the buyers, speak to agent if there is an issue and that they will sort them out. Have seen this throughout specially when the vehicles started becoming complicated. They make the money and wash their hands off.

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Which is why with modern cars and that kind of money the agents would be a safer bet. The whole JDM market models are better is thing of the past now. Even used car prices are not significantly lower than new cars like they used to be.

True...the export variant models are limited...however if there is a sufficient market for it there are other ways to get the portfolio increased and even get CPO vehicles shipped in with can be given with some sort of agent support. However, sad reality is 99% of the buyers of cars like Toyota, Honda, etc...would happily pay 100mil on a car but wouldn't pay peanuts to maintain the car.

On 3/26/2025 at 8:31 PM, Gummybr said:

Nope the reason is the duty on a 1.5l hybrid or a petrol is more than the duty on a 100kW motor also you get the luxury tax benefit.

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Strange....I thought that vehicle importers association guy said it the other way around. I think in the case of the XTrail it is actually the Petrol Hybrid being cheaper than the electric. The front motor is 150kW and in the case of an eForce the rear is an additional 100kW. So the taxes as an EV are higher than a 1498cc petrol hybrid.

iRage · Thursday at 04:46 AM

On 3/27/2025 at 4:28 AM, Skyline R33 said:

Guys, I live down under and would like to send my dad a car. Currently he has a 1997 CR51 and would like him to have something more comfortable. Has anyone sent cars from Australia or know anyone who has. Since I will be paying for it in AUD I will not need to open an LC. How does this work?

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Well...we sent our car in Japan to SL. You need to go to import control and talk to them. They will give you the necessary information. (EDIT: This is what you will have to do to get over the fact of not having to open a LC, whether you will be given a permit or not depends on your status and other factors)You pretty much have to give them information about the car including export certificates and inspections, show them that it was purchased with funds belonging to you outside of SL (you will have to show your employment and residence status in AUS), plus the car needs to meet existing import control regulations (i.e. age). This will require you to run to a few places like the Ministry of Finance (this may not be too difficult as you will be paying duty/taxes). If everything checks out, you will be given a letter permitting your importation, which leads to a permit, which leads to you being able to ship your car.

Edited Friday at 03:15 AM by iRage

john cooper · Thursday at 08:55 PM

On 3/27/2025 at 4:46 AM, iRage said:

Well...we sent our car in Japan to SL. You need to go to import control and talk to them. They will give you the necessary information. You pretty much have to give them information about the car including export certificates and inspections, show them that it was purchased with funds belonging to you outside of SL (you will have to show your employment and residence status in AUS), plus the car needs to meet existing import control regulations (i.e. age). This will require you to run to a few places like the Ministry of Finance (this may not be too difficult as you will be paying duty/taxes). If everything checks out, you will be given a letter permitting your importation, which leads to a permit, which leads to you being able to ship your car.

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Don't you need to show how much $$$$$ you have sent to SL over 24 month period via the bank before being eligible for the permit?

I remember, ages ago we had to go on that path

iRage · Friday at 03:17 AM

On 3/27/2025 at 8:55 PM, john cooper said:

Don't you need to show how much $$$$$ you have sent to SL over 24 month period via the bank before being eligible for the permit?

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Yes and no. In the past with all permits in all the colors of the rainbow you had to show how much revenue you sent to SL or it was simply a matter of stating that it was a gift as you are gainfully employed, immigrated, etc...then for some permits you had to show how much money you had sent and how much time you have spent/lived abroad, etc...Then during the restrictions it was needed to get approval.

So it all depends on what the person's status is, the purpose of the import, and under what status you plan to import the vehicle. The hitch here is that there actually is no "gift permit" anymore. So the import control department is the place to go (this car very well might have to be imported and registered under the exporter's name). They are quite helpful and will give the necessary advice on how the import can be done. It is all a matter of getting permission from one place to another and if one is willing to pay for it (heck with fees upon fees even an old car can be imported).

Skyline R33 · Friday at 04:40 AM

On 3/27/2025 at 4:46 AM, iRage said:

Well...we sent our car in Japan to SL. You need to go to import control and talk to them. They will give you the necessary information. You pretty much have to give them information about the car including export certificates and inspections, show them that it was purchased with funds belonging to you outside of SL (you will have to show your employment and residence status in AUS), plus the car needs to meet existing import control regulations (i.e. age). This will require you to run to a few places like the Ministry of Finance (this may not be too difficult as you will be paying duty/taxes). If everything checks out, you will be given a letter permitting your importation, which leads to a permit, which leads to you being able to ship your car.

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Thanks for the reply and appreciate the input.

1) I am not seeking a permit and happy to pay the duty. No record of AUD sent to SL via banks.

2) The car will be bought in Japan and shipped to SL. I know a guy in Jap (not SriLankan) who does exporting cars for work.

3) I will pay the Japanese part from Aus. We have funds in SL to pay the duty

4) Buying in Aus and sending would be ideal however cheaper in Japan and very hard to ship a car from Aus to SL.

5) Could always save the headache and buy in SL but trying to make sure we are getting a decent vehicle.

6) Looking at a Yaris Cross or a Corolla Cross.

Appreciate any input.

iRage · Friday at 10:09 AM

On 3/28/2025 at 4:40 AM, Skyline R33 said:

Thanks for the reply and appreciate the input.

1) I am not seeking a permit and happy to pay the duty. No record of AUD sent to SL via banks.

2) The car will be bought in Japan and shipped to SL. I know a guy in Jap (not SriLankan) who does exporting cars for work.

3) I will pay the Japanese part from Aus. We have funds in SL to pay the duty

4) Buying in Aus and sending would be ideal however cheaper in Japan and very hard to ship a car from Aus to SL.

5) Could always save the headache and buy in SL but trying to make sure we are getting a decent vehicle.

6) Looking at a Yaris Cross or a Corolla Cross.

Appreciate any input.

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See...that is the thing...You need to talk to Import Control. You might even have to go to the Ministry of Finance and get the whole "no fund repatriation to SL" sorted out as well.

Skyline R33 · Friday at 10:19 AM

On 3/28/2025 at 10:09 AM, iRage said:

See...that is the thing...You need to talk to Import Control. You might even have to go to the Ministry of Finance and get the whole "no fund repatriation to SL" sorted out as well.

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Thanks. I will ask dad to talk to import control. I don’t understand why GOSL would oppose a car coming in and duty paid without any FOREX leaving the country. It is a good thing for them right? They get a car and also duty as well. There are few others in my same boat. Hopefully I can figure it out.

sathyajithj99 · Saturday at 12:13 AM

I wonder what kind of options play model has as it is 4.5million expensive than the base model 🤐

Edited Saturday at 12:14 AM by sathyajithj99

iRage · 2025-03-30T02:58:18Z

On 3/29/2025 at 12:13 AM, sathyajithj99 said:

I wonder what kind of options play model has as it is 4.5million expensive than the base model 🤐

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You mean between the Z Play Package and the X (X is the base eHEV grade...the equivalent gasoline grade is G). In Japan the price difference is about 600,000-700,000 yen depedning on FWD or AWD.

What do you get extra ?

- Beige colored faux leather and fabric mixed seats (X gets black cloth)

- Two tone color scheme

- Sequential turn lights and more LED lighting

- Navigation system and ETC as standard (useless in SL)

- Wireless charging as standard

- Exterior trim bits are different.

- 18inch wheels vs 16 inch wheels

Plus things like the panoramic sunroof, premium sound system and a few others are offered as manufacturer options for the Z Play but are simply not offered in the X at all.

I don't think 600-700 thousand yen directly translates to 4.5million LKR so it could be that there are additional options spec'd out for the Z play or the profit margin is a bit higher for the high trim.

iRage · 2025-03-30T03:12:36Z

On 3/28/2025 at 10:19 AM, Skyline R33 said:

Thanks. I will ask dad to talk to import control. I don’t understand why GOSL would oppose a car coming in and duty paid without any FOREX leaving the country. It is a good thing for them right? They get a car and also duty as well. There are few others in my same boat. Hopefully I can figure it out.

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I don't think it will be a problem; it is just that it is not the normal avenue, so there needs to be some extra legwork done from your side.
As for the FOREX thing...that really wasn't a restrictive requirement even in the past, it was just a criteria for certain types of permits and as a check to ensure everything is legit; and then during the ban it was needed to file for an excemption for the ban.

You need to understand Sri Lankans to figure out why these are put in place. Lankans go crazy and become the most devious specimens on the face of the planet when it comes to cars.

If the checks were not there our people would be getting our neighbor's aunty's colleague's son-in-law living in Kenya to their long lost uncle who lived in London before passing away 15 years ago to their house-keeper's daughter now working in the middle east sending in cars. They would happily pay the expat Lankan's local relatives in Rs. thus impacting a huge part of the country's forex inflows. This also means there will be a bunch of people who would be shifting money back and forth in dubious ways (which by the way does borderline and sometimes is money laundering). Also, in the past this was also a part of motivating Lankan expats to save their USDs, GBP, JPY, etc in Lanka (there was a time where you would automatically get a permit for 20% of the forex remittances one makes, then at another time permits for government bonds purchased, etc...)

So as long as it is a legit case, it should be given due consideration; it is just that you will have to go knock on a few doors. Even the customs department is likely to say no at first because they don't want to open a new can of worms with a whole bunch of migrated Lankans wanting to send in cars bought from their foreign held money.

sathyajithj99 · 2025-03-30T14:09:31Z

On 3/30/2025 at 2:58 AM, iRage said:

You mean between the Z Play Package and the X (X is the base eHEV grade...the equivalent gasoline grade is G). In Japan the price difference is about 600,000-700,000 yen depedning on FWD or AWD.

What do you get extra ?

- Beige colored faux leather and fabric mixed seats (X gets black cloth)

- Two tone color scheme

- Sequential turn lights and more LED lighting

- Navigation system and ETC as standard (useless in SL)

- Wireless charging as standard

- Exterior trim bits are different.

- 18inch wheels vs 16 inch wheels

Plus things like the panoramic sunroof, premium sound system and a few others are offered as manufacturer options for the Z Play but are simply not offered in the X at all.

I don't think 600-700 thousand yen directly translates to 4.5million LKR so it could be that there are additional options spec'd out for the Z play or the profit margin is a bit higher for the high trim.

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