Surcharge Expires Dec 31 — Will Vehicle Prices Finally Drop, or Just Get Extended Again?

The 50% surcharge on customs duty for imported vehicles has been running since mid-May 2026, stacked on top of the usual duty to slow dollar outflows on cars, vans and SUVs across petrol, diesel, hybrid and EV. It was meant to be a three-month measure, got extended in August, and is now due to lapse on December 31 — just weeks away. Some buyers and importers are holding off registrations and lease applications, betting the government lets it expire and prices soften in January. Others think that's wishful thinking — the forex pressure that justified it hasn't gone away, it's already been extended once, and a fresh gazette could land before anyone notices, same as last time. Dealers who stocked up assuming it would end are stuck quoting prices they can't really stand behind either way. If you're mid-decision on buying, leasing or clearing a vehicle right now — are you waiting out December, or moving ahead assuming nothing changes on January 1? What is your importer or dealer actually betting on behind closed doors? සර් චාජ් එක දෙසැම්බර් 31ට ඉවරයි කියලා විශ්වාස කරනවද, නැත්නම් තව දිගු වේවි කියලද හිතෙන්නේ?