Taxes on several essential food items reduced ahead of budget

Nov 08, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said levies on several essential food items are to be reduced from midnight today to control the cost of living of the consumers.

Announcing this pre-budget benefit, minister told the media that majority of the consumers will benefit from this action, due to reduction of prices.

He said this reduction will cost the government around 1,500 million rupees per month.

According to the announcement, the levy of following food commodities will reduce in following manner.

Item	Prevailing Duty Rate	New Duty Rate	Duty Reduction
	(Rs. Per kilo)	(Rs. Per kilo)	by (Rs. Per kilo)
Sprats	11	1	10
Potatoes	40	1	39
B’ onions	40	1	39
Lentils - whole	10	1	9
Lentils - Split	15	3	12
Dried fish	102	52	50
Palm oil/other veg. oil - crude	110	95	15
Palm olen	115	100	15
Palm stearin	110	95	15
Refine palm oil	135	110	25
Other veg. oil refine	130	105	25
Palm Kernal – crude	130	105	25
Refine	145	110	35
Coconut oil (Crude/ Refine)	130	105	25