The special import levy on potatoes has been reduced from Rs. 50 per kilogram to Rs. 25 per kilogram from midnight Wednesday (25), the Finance, Economy and Policy Development Ministry announced.
Issuing a press release the ministry said the decision was taken during the meeting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had with the Cost of Living Committee recently.
The special gazette notification in this regard has been issued by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance, Economy and Policy Development Minister. The ministry said the decision had been made as the prices of vegetables in the market remained high and with the anticipation of a large stock of local potatoes to the market by February.
The ministry said the revision of import levies now will not be an issue for local potato farmers since the local potato harvest will be available in the market in February.