Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2013-01-03

Conversion of Single and Double Cabs and Land Rover Defender Motor vehicles to five door Luxury Station Wagons and conversion of Single Cabs to Double Cabs

- it has been observed that Land Rover Defender Motor vehicles auctioned by the government institutions are being converted to 5 door luxury station wagons and imported single cabs already registered as single cabs, to double cabs by changing the body structure of such vehicles. The proposal made by Hon. Kumara Welgama, Minister of Transport, to implement the following, with the view to controlling these activities, was approved by the Cabinet:

* the relevant registration should be in accordance with provisions of the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act, No.08 of 2009;
* the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic should be satisfied that the relevant and parts have been lawfully imported to the Country; and
* the difference between the tax payable for a new/used imported vehicle similar to that of the converted vehicle on the date of registration of the converted vehicle and the tax already paid on the converted vehicle at the time of its importation, should be paid as a surcharge to the Government.
The registration of such converted vehicles under the above conditions should be completed by 2013?03?31 and registration of such vehicles after the above date should not be permitted under any circumstances.