December 01, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has announced a temporary reduction in the Special Commodity Levy on imported big onions, dropping it from Rs. 30 to Rs. 10 per kilogramme.
This adjustment will remain in effect until December 31, 2024.
At the same time, the levy on imported potatoes will stay unchanged at Rs. 60 per kilogram, according to the Ministry’s latest statement.
This decision follows a gazette notification issued on October 2, which initially imposed a Special Commodity Levy of Rs. 30 on each kilogramme of imported big onions, while a levy of Rs. 60 per kilogramme was set for imported potatoes.
These levies were meant to be effective until November 30, 2024, but the recent move to reduce the onion levy is aimed at easing the financial burden on consumers in light of ongoing market conditions.
The reduction in the levy on onions is expected to lower prices for consumers, providing some relief in the face of rising food costs. However, with the levy on potatoes remaining unchanged, the government has indicated its stance on maintaining stability in pricing for this commodity.
