Fact Check
To check this claim, FactCheck consulted import data from the Export Development Board Trade Statistics. FactCheck looked at the totals for the HS codes 8701 to 8716, “Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof” category, and excluded HS 8706 to 8709 and 8712 to 8716 (all non-motorised vehicles and parts subcategories) to calculate the totals that are relevant to the state minister’s claim.
According to the data, a total of 2,631,612 vehicles were imported from 2015 to 2019. The total value of imports during the same period amounted to LKR 1,239.7 billion. These figures align closely with the state minister’s claim.
Therefore, we classify his statement as TRUE.
*FactCheck.lk‘s verdict is based on the most recent information that is publicly accessible. As with every fact check, if new information becomes available, FactCheck.lk will revisit the assessment.
Sources
Export Development Board, Trade Statistics Platform, Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof, available at: https://stat.edb.gov.lk/ [last accessed 15 May 2021]