Jan 30, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to grant a grace period for the owners of vehicles that were imported to Sri Lanka by unscrupulous methods.

The owners of such vehicles have been granted a grace period until March to pay Rs. one million and legally register the vehicle.

Sri Lanka police and other authorities have identified and seized hundreds of vehicles that were imported to the country in fraudulent ways. Some have imported vehicles as parts and assembled them later.

These vehicles cannot be legally registered but some register them under the licenses of discarded vehicles fraudulently changing the engine and chassis numbers. Some vehicles are used without a license.

The authorities say that this type of 'bud' vehicles, as they are known in the island, will be confiscated if not registered before March 31.