Customs Hit Its Full 2026 Revenue Target by Oct 13 — Off Vehicle Buyers?

Sri Lanka Customs collected over Rs 2,286 billion by October 21, already beating its full 2026 target of about Rs 2,207 billion — with two months still to go. Officials say stronger-than-expected vehicle import taxes were a big part of that windfall, even though imports were projected to slow this year. One side says this proves the system is finally working: duties are being collected properly instead of leaking out, and a Treasury this far ahead of target has more room to ease pressure on buyers in 2027. The other side says it proves the opposite — every rupee of this "surplus" came out of someone's lease installment or savings for a car, and a government already past its target has zero excuse not to cut duties now instead of waiting for the next budget. If you imported or bought a vehicle this year, did it feel like you were funding this surplus? Should extra tax revenue mean lower prices ahead, or does it just prove the government can keep charging what it likes? ඔයාගේ ලීසිං හෝ ආනයන බිල බැලුවම, මේ අතිරික්ත ආදායම ඔයාගේම මුදල්වලින්ද කියලා හිතෙනවද?