Sri Lankan Government on Saturday announced a number of steps in order to ease the pressure on the Sri Lankan rupee including suspension of permits for vehicle imports to MPs and other dignitaries for a period of one year. Importation of vehicles for Government ministries,  departments and statutory boards have been suspended until further notice.

Further, a requirement of 100 percent cash margin has been imposed for the import of Refrigerators, ACs,  TV, Telephones and Mobile phones, washing machines, footwear and tyres. The measures came as Srilankan rupee has seen a steep decline in past few weeks due to external reasons and also due its low foreign exchange reserves.

Opposition has attacked the government for failing to stem the decline and bringing hardship to common man. Government said it will continuously monitor the exchange rate fluctuations and will take appropriate action accordingly.