CMTA Says the 15% Used-Import Tax Break Cost Rs 120bn — Budget Left It Alone. Fair?

The Ceylon Motor Traders' Association says Sri Lanka lost around Rs 120 billion in revenue this year because "used" vehicle imports get a flat 15% discount on CIF value for duty purposes, even when the car is practically zero-mileage and priced close to brand new. CMTA pushed hard for the November 13 Budget to scrap or tighten the rule. Budget 2027 came and went without touching it at all. Authorised agents argue the concession lets near-new "used" imports undercut genuine brand-new cars sold through proper channels, and that the state is bleeding revenue it badly needs right now. Buyers and independent importers argue it's one of the few things keeping decent cars within reach, and that killing it just hands the market back to agents who mark up heavily on brand-new stock anyway. So who's actually right — is this a loophole propping up affordability, or a hole in state revenue we'll all end up paying for through other taxes later? If you bought a "used" import in the last year, was it genuinely used, or basically new with delivery mileage on the clock? රජයට බදු අහිමි වෙනවා කියනවා, ඔබට මිල අඩුවෙනවා කියනවා - ඇත්ත කතාව මොකක්ද?