Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage on Wednesday challenged Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to prove a parliamentary claim that he had said a Toyota Vitz could be imported for Rs. 1.2 million — offering to resign from his post if the attribution is substantiated, and demanding the Opposition Leader resign if it is not.
“I am asking the Opposition Leader to prove if I had made a statement that a Vitz car is sold for Rs. 1.2 million. I will resign. If he cannot prove so, then the Opposition Leader must resign,” Hewage told the House, accusing the Opposition of spreading falsehoods.
The exchange came during the parliamentary debate on vehicle import liberalisation. Sajith Premadasa cited the Rs. 1.2 million figure earlier, attributing it to Hewage as an example of what the deputy minister had supposedly promised consumers under the relaxed import regime.
The price dispute reflects a broader political fight over whether the lifting of vehicle import restrictions has produced the consumer benefits the government promised. With landed prices of even entry-level Japanese hatchbacks running far above Rs. 1.2 million after duties and the new 50% surcharge added on May 16, the figure has become a political liability.
The challenge follows the 50% personal vehicle import surcharge imposed on May 16, which Customs officials expect will reduce import revenue from coming weeks.
