Rice Import Tax Cut Aims to Ease Domestic Shortage

COLOMBO (News 1st);  In a bid to address the current Keeri Samba rice shortage, the Sri Lankan government has significantly reduced the import tax on a similar type of rice. 

The move, announced through an extraordinary gazette by President Ranil Wickramasinghe, as the Finance Minister, cuts the Special Commodity Levy rice imported under HS Code 1006.30.29 from a hefty Rs. 65/- per kilogram to a nominal Rs. 1/-.

This temporary tax concession, effective from January 2nd to January 21st, 2024, aims to incentivize increased imports of the substitute rice variety.