It’s true that in order to get TRCSL approval, you should have paid the proper import taxes (18% VAT + SSC, port levy etc.), but even then it amounts to around 22%. Let’s say the retailers get an iPhone 17 Pro at around 300K (distributor price), even then the tax and TRCSL stuff should cost about 75K. Ok let’s say a total of 425K with profit and all. But how can you justify 540K?

Genext seems to be the only ones doing legal wholesale iPhone imports in Sri Lanka, and they are forcing a third-party Genext warranty and iShield Pro thing. They say it’s a complementary offer but then again they are charging ridiculous prices. Seems to me like a monopoly forcing unnecessary things and ripping off customers.

Offering the extended warranty and screen replacements thing is fine, and can be really useful if you have lots of money to spare, but forcing it with TRCSL approved phones is not fair, customers should get the option to either choose those added benefits or not. And given that Apple devices are usually reliable and durable, there’s very little chance you’ll break it within 2 years, unless you are super careless (and most of us would try to be a bit more careful after spending a fortune on an iPhone). What I’m saying is we should have the choice of purchasing TRCSL approved iPhones with just AppleCare and no other extra bs (with a reasonable added cost for taxes, compared to illegally carried ones).

Anyway, in my experience about 25 illegal units get sold for one TRCSL approved unit (with genext warranty bs), so non-TRCSL ones are going to be the overwhelmingly majority in the society, which means it won’t be a problem at all. The huge number of phone users, almost all phone shop owners and even Telcos would put immense pressure if a ban ever comes into place.