One Flat Tax on Every Imported Car — Would It Actually Help the Middle Class?

The Ceylon Automobile Importers Association says the current tax structure only lets a narrow slice of models into the market at affordable prices, and it's drafting a single unified fee to replace the current mix of CID, the 50% surcharge, luxury tax and the 15% depreciation concession before Budget 2027. Importers argue one flat rate per vehicle would cut paperwork, kill the games played with invoice values, and open the door to more brands at lower prices. Sceptics say a flat fee just moves the burden around - small cars that pay less tax today could end up subsidising the SUVs and double cabs that pay more right now, and government revenue could still take a hit depending on where the number lands. Would a single flat tax on all imports actually bring prices down for an Alto or Aqua buyer, or would it just rearrange who pays what and leave the market just as unpredictable? If you had Budget 2027's ear, what would you want this new structure to look like? මිල අඩු වේවිද, නැත්නම් බරම පැත්තක් සිට තවත් පැත්තකට මාරු වේවිද?