Sales tax on 63 essential items unchanged

Colombo, January 1 (Daily Mirror) - A gazette notification was issued on December 31, 2024, to maintain the existing import duty on 63 selected items, including essential food items, without any revisions, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development announced.

The Ministry said that continuing the existing duty rates aims to prevent price increases for goods by maintaining the current rates on items such as dhal, white sugar, potatoes, big onions, red onions, coconut oil, vegetable oil, canned fish and dried chilies.

Additionally, the Ministry noted that the tax rates on food items like rice, millet, green gram, maize, turmeric, fruits, fish and dried fish were also retained. This measure is intended to protect the local agriculture and fisheries industries.