Import tax on potatoes increased by Rs.10

The Government has increased the import duty on potatoes by 10 rupees per Kilo. Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that the increase is intended to protect local farmers. “Our government, in our Mahinda Chinthana policy framework made it very clear that we will protect the local farmer. It is based on this policy that we decided to increase the import duty for potatoes” he said.

The current tax would be increased from Rs.20 to Rs.30 per Kilo. Last year the tax was increased from Rs.10 to Rs. 20 during this season on the direct instructions of the President.

Commenting further the minister said that the rise in import duty will be reviewed in due course. “ This increase for imports was because our local farmers harvest during this time of the year, once the harvesting season is over we as a government will review the policy” he said