Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya announced that the government’s decision to reduce the rice import tax from Rs.65 to Rs.1 per kilogram will not affect local farmers.
Similarly, the revision of the special merchandise tax for imported rice and big onions (pink onion) will also not impact local farmers.
The minister noted that the price of big onions has significantly increased following the termination of big onion export by India. In response, the government has decided to lower the tax on pink onion
imports from Rs.80 to Rs.10, as pink onions are a suitable alternative for big onions. Siyambalapitiya also explained that the government has allowed the importation of keeri samba since January due to the rapid rise in its prices. The minister pointed out that part of the stock of rice that was shipped during that period arrived in Sri Lanka late and that stock was stuck in the port, and that this relief would be effective for one week only till the release the stock delayed in the port.
Jayasiri Munasinghe