VEHICLES NOT UP TO EURO FOUR STANDARD, BANNED FROM YESTERDAY

Importing vehicles which are not equipped with safety features such as air bags, seat belts and below the emission levels or their equivalent as prescribed by Euro IV was banned with effect from yesterday, Finance Ministry Information Director M. Ali Hassan said.

He said, earlier, the ban had come to effect from January 1 as proposed in the 2017 Budget, but considering the requests made by the motor vehicle importers and manufacturers for more time to make the required adjustments and comply with the proposed emission standards and safety measures, the effective date was postponed to July 1 this year.

Accordingly, the import of vehicles, which did not carry air bags and threepoint seat belts for the driver, front and the rear passenger,anti-locking Braking System (ABS), would not be allowed.

“As this rescheduling of the implementation is made based on the industry representations, the dealers, importers and manufacturers are strictly advised to refrain from establishing any Letter of Credit (LC) for the import of motors vehicles, which do not comply with the specified standards with an estimated arrival date after July 1, 2018,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to the Daily Mirror Petroleum Resources Development Ministry Secretary Upali Marasinghe said the first Euro four emissions standard Diesel and Petrol stock had arrived in the country according to the scheduled date two weeks before.

A ceremony would be held at the C. F. De Mel & Sons Filling Station, Colombo for the pumping of first stock of Euro four standard fuel to a vehicle with the patronage of Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, Deputy Minister Dr. Anoma Gamage and other distinguish guests on Tuesday (2) morning.