Former United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader and MP Ravi Karunanayake has questioned whether Sri Lanka’s immediate priority should be importing motor vehicles or strengthening the Rupee to create greater capacity for future imports.
Speaking in an interview with Ceylon Wire, Karunanayake noted that the US Dollar, which stood at around Rs. 293 in September 2024, has since risen to around Rs. 340 and continues to fluctuate.
He said the country must decide whether its immediate requirement is to import 100,000 motor vehicles or to strengthen the Rupee and avoid placing additional pressure on the economy.
Karunanayake also said that around 70,000 vehicles were imported in 2025, while 54,000 vehicles had already been imported during the first six months of this year.
He warned that a foreign exchange shortage could have a serious impact on imports, with priority likely to be given to essential imports such as petroleum.
