COLOMBO, March 29 (Xinhua) -- At a crossroads in the heart of Colombo, the smoke from traditional fuel-powered buses, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks lingers around during the morning and evening rush hours, when pedestrians passing by often turn their gaze towards a bright and brand-new showroom.

This is the first showroom for the Chinese brand BYD in Sri Lanka, which has witnessed a continuous surge in customer traffic since its opening, as Sri Lanka's government officially lifted a five-year ban on private car imports in February.

Prasad Wijekoon, a 43-year-old foreign trade businessman, makes a video call to his wife showing a BYD ATTO 3. Having traveled to China for business several times a year and ridden in this model for multiple times, he is already familiar with its design details and comfortable experience.

"Its space and functions are suitable for my requirements of family travel. My wife likes the color, the design, and the rotating center console screen. I value its safety features and cost-effectiveness more, and it also aligns well with our environmental protection concepts," Wijekoon said.

Many customers, like Wijekoon, come well-prepared. After hearing that his friend had ordered two Chinese EVs last month, 46-year-old restaurant owner Pragalath and two of his friends came to the store, and each of them made an order that day.

"I often travel between Colombo and Jaffna, which are about 400 kilometers apart. I think I only need one charge since its range is about 430 kilometers. Chinese EVs have overturned my perception of cars, and it's not just a transportation tool but also a reliable work and life partner," he said.

Since its opening last August, this BYD showroom in Colombo has grown more and more popular. Adam Hu, BYD country manager of Sri Lanka for the Asia-Pacific auto sales division, said that the brand's showrooms have now entered Colombo, Kandy, and Galle in Sri Lanka. They have received thousands of pre-orders, with the first batch of 462 cars arriving at Hambantota International Port on March 14 and official deliveries starting on March 27.

Charith Panditharatna, general manager of the Automotive Division at John Keells CG Auto (Pvt) Ltd., BYD's distributor in Sri Lanka, said that since Sri Lanka lifted the five-year ban on private car imports, market demand has been activated.

Panditharatna said that when people face car purchase choices, they find that Chinese EVs, including BYD, MG, and SERES, which participated in the Colombo EV Motor Show last December, are well ahead in terms of technology, comfort and style.

"In recent years, products, especially EVs made in China, are increasingly intelligent, featuring higher performance, higher technology, and higher quality," Panditharatna said.

"If you look at social media, you'll know how popular Chinese EVs are in Sri Lanka," Panditharatna added.

Indeed, many Sri Lankan car enthusiasts like and interact with posts about Chinese new energy vehicles on social media. Some are asking about prices and styles, some already have favorite models, and others are eagerly waiting to drive their ordered vehicles.

Among the interactive posts, there are many eye-catching comments: "China is the leader in the EV market," "Choosing Chinese new energy vehicles is a global trend," Enditem

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