SLS now compulsory for imported car & tuk tyres from 2027 — safety or protectionism?

From 1 January 2027, every imported passenger car tyre and three-wheeler tyre landing in Sri Lanka must carry SLS certification — SLS 1212 for cars, SLS 1347 for tuks — under a gazette the Cabinet approved this month (No. 2508/27, dated 1 October 2026). The stated reason is consumer safety and a "fair ground" for local tyre makers who already meet the standard. Supporters say it's overdue — cheap, uncertified imports have been linked to blowouts and worn treads sold as near-new, especially in the three-wheeler trade where margins are thinnest and drivers push tyres to the limit. Critics suspect this is really about shielding local manufacturers from competition: certification costs and delays could push out smaller importers, shrink the brands on the shelf, and raise prices right when buyers are already stretched. Have you ever had a tyre fail that you suspect was never properly tested, or does this feel like red tape dressed up as safety? What do you currently pay for a decent car or three-wheeler tyre, and would you pay more for a certified one? මේක ආරක්ෂාවටද, නැත්නම් දේශීය නිෂ්පාදකයින්ට තරගයෙන් ආරක්ෂාව දෙන එකක්ද? ඔබේ අදහස මොකක්ද?