An ambitious plan to manufacture a revolutionary new electric three-wheeler in Sri Lanka was recently unveiled, with a concept model shown to the public in Colombo for the first time. Dubbed as the Samurai three-wheeler, this innovative machine is designed using state of the art Japanese technology and is currently being tested in Sri Lanka.
Scheduled to be launched in 2020, this unique looking vehicle has shown a greater thrust to weight ratio, compared to its traditional
petrol-powered counterparts.
It is powered using just two batteries and is capable of achieving a respectable top speed of roughly 60 km/h on the road. At a normal cruising range, the Samurai three-wheeler will travel up to 80 kilometres on a single charge.
Currently being trialled at the University of Ruhuna, the compact electric three-wheeler will be taken to the Peradeniya University to test its capabilities on a mountain terrain. The most visually striking aspect of this three-wheeler is that it has two wheels in front and only one in the rear. Engineers from Japan have stated that this design will offer far more stability and safety, compared to its traditional counterparts.
Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department of Sri Lanka, Ivan Dissanayake, recently stated that both vehicle and motorcycle owners have the capacity to pay taxes, given that most vehicle owners go through monthly obligations, such as paying for insurance charges, maintenance charges, and fuel charges.
The commissioner further added that Sri Lankans, who travel abroad on foreign tours, also have the capacity to pay extra taxes to the government. As such, commissioner Dissanayake advised that all those who are eligible should come forward and register as a taxpayer to fulfil their duty to the country.
Presently, the Inland Revenue Department has joined forces with more than 32 organizations. According to the information discovered through these collaborations, if the department informed an individual that he or she is capable of paying taxes, further steps will be taken to open new tax papers for those individuals. Nevertheless, the Inland Revenue Department will also take measures to investigate the sources of income that belong to those individuals, said the commissioner.
Commenting on the new development, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that due to the depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee compared to the dollar, the government has no other choice but to request its citizens to open new tax papers.
“Vehicle and Motorcycle Owners Have Money to Pay Taxes” - Says Inland Revenue Department
An Electric Three-Wheeler with a Lankan Heart and a Japanese Soul
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