Feb 14, Colombo: The registration of new motor vehicles has sharply gone up in Sri Lanka in 2010 compared to year 2009.

The Department of Motor Traffic figures point out that the number of motor vehicles registered in 2010 is 359,243. In 2009, only 204,075 vehicles were registered.

The increase of vehicle registration is more than 150,000 in 2010.

The Department of Motor Traffic says that the increase of motorcycles has also gone up significantly.

Around 30,000 vehicles are registered by the department each month, the department sources say.

The slash of import taxes on motor vehicles by the government last year caused a massive influx of vehicles.

Sri Lanka in June 2010 reduced vehicle import taxes by 50 percent and removed the 15% import surcharge levied on all imports.