Nov 13, Colombo: Chairman of Sri Lanka Motor Vehicle Traders' Association Thilak Gunasekara says that the price of small cars will go up around Rs. 200,000 under the next year's budget proposals.

The minimum import duty for imported cars is increased to Rs. 750,000. The adjustments of import for 800 cc Maruti car will increase the price of it by Rs. 200,000 accordingly, he points out.

According to him, the other small cars pay import duty of more than Rs. 750,000 and their prices will therefore not increase.

The price of a three wheeler will also increase by Rs. 25,000, according to him.

Maruti 800 cc cars are popular among the lower middle class. Three wheelers are also a popular mode of transport among the lower middle class people of Sri Lanka.