ANGER IN CEYLON

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30230, 7 September 1963, Page 8

ANGER IN CEYLON

Diplomats’

Car Sales COLOMBO. The Ceylon Government is investigating allegations that members of some foreign diplomatic missions are selling their cars at “fancy prices.” Inquiries made by the External Affairs Ministry have uncovered the fact that some diplomats have abused their privileges by importing as many as three expensive cars while they are in Ceylon on diplomatic assignments. With the total ban now operating on the import of cars, diplomats can sell their cars at high prices to local buyers. The purchasers pay the Customs duty and the diplomat makes a considerable profit. , The External Affairs Ministry has urged the Treasury to take action in the matter. The ministry has proposed that members of foreign diplomatic missions should be permitted to import only one cdr' to be used during the entire period of their assignment in Ceylon and it has pointed out that in India, all diplomats have to sell their cars to the State Trading Corporation. At a recent conference between the heads of foreign mission and ministry officials, the mission heads asked for more facilities to sell their cars./ They wanted the Government to amend the present regulation forbidding the sale of left-hand drive cars so that they would be able to dispose of their cars with this driving system. Ceylon observes the British custom of driving on the left. One diplomatic mission is flouting the law by running all its vehicles on foreign number plates.