Govt. exempts Lanka Sugar Company from statutory payments: Minister

16 November 2025 03:28 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, Nov. 16 (Daily Mirror) - The government has decided to exempt the Lanka Sugar Company from all statutory payments starting January 1, Trade Minister Sunil Handunnetti announced.

Speaking at an event, the Minister said the company’s newly launched brown sugar sales network—opened last Friday (11)—will enable consumers to purchase high-quality, locally produced brown sugar at affordable prices. He added that the initiative will also strengthen the livelihoods of nearly 250,000 sugarcane-farming families.

The Lanka Sugar Company plans to further expand its product range by introducing sugarcane-based items such as drinks, jaggery, and sugarcane honey through its wholesale and retail outlet on Nawala Road, Nugegoda.

Minister Handunnetti said that the company, which operates the Pelwatte and Sevanagala factories, had long been the subject of false claims suggesting it would be shut down or sold to the private sector. Launching the new sales network after 14 years, he said, was the company’s “right response at the right time,” expressing gratitude to its staff and sugarcane farmers for their continued commitment.

The brown sugar sales network was officially inaugurated in Nugegoda under the patronage of the Minister. This marks the first time in the company’s history that a direct sales network has been established to offer its products to consumers at low prices.

Comments - 4

Indraraj Sunday, 16 November 2025 03:49 PM

To get this straight. The government has granted an exemption on what statutory payments exactly?

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lion Sunday, 16 November 2025 03:55 PM

Good initiative, people must buy browns sugar manufactured locally to give a boost our farmers.

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RanjithT Sunday, 16 November 2025 07:09 PM

Come on Comrade. How could that happen? EPF/ ETF/Gratuity/Personal Income Tax and Stamp duties are main statutory payments. Is comrade suggesting to exempt those. Big queckchen NO.

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velu rasiah Sunday, 16 November 2025 10:40 PM

Brown sugar is approximately twice as expensive as white sugar in north America. The SL people like white sugar over brown, so why not do a barter trade and get more white sugar. This might help to self sufficiency in sugar (??).

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