The hiking of taxes on hybrids was a mistake, Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka who was a former environmental minister said.
Sri Lanka`s new United National Party-led administration where the Minister Ranawaka`s Jathika Hela Urumaya is a coalition partner sharply raised taxes on hybrid cars, which were previously lower than conventionally powered cars.
`It is a mistake actually,` Ranawaka told Sri Lanka`s Foreign Correspondents Association.
Ranawaka, a former environmental minister has been keen to promote cleaner energy use and has pushed for solar and renewable energy, when he was in the ousted Rajapaksa regime.
Ranawaka said the Rajapaksa administration raised too much taxes from basic foods while the current administration was taxing the rich with a super gains tax.
The new regime raised taxes on hybrids as part of efforts to get more revenue after raising public sector salaries and cutting energy taxes. Local Media