Government imposes special commodity levy on various goods

1 December 2023 10:01 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 37 Bookmark

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Colombo (Daily Mirror) - President Ranil Wickremesinghe, acting in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, has officially announced the imposition of the Special Commodity Levy on a range of goods, effective today (01).

The presidential directive, communicated through a special government notification, indicates that the levy will remain in effect until December 31, 2024, subject to the provisions outlined in Sub Section (3) of Section of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No.48 of 2007.

The affected goods include a variety of everyday items such as butter, dates, yogurt, grapes (both fresh and dried), apples, salmon, herrings, and big onions.

This move is part of the government's broader strategy to manage economic challenges and ensure fiscal stability.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the necessity of these measures to address economic concerns and sustain the nation's financial well-being.

Comments - 37

Gona Friday, 01 December 2023 10:37 PM

For the wellbeing of butterflies

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Amaran Saturday, 02 December 2023 12:02 AM

President now must STOP going overseas unnecessarily using TAX PAYER'S MONEY. HE gives one excuse to impose Tax and do the opposite when it comes to his own matter

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Gb Saturday, 02 December 2023 12:34 AM

Instead of taxing people more and more, stop the theft and return stolen money, all these taxes are just to support the damn parliament members expenditures, what a joke sl is stealing from the poor to give it to yourselves, reverse Robin Hood, ranil hoodwinker

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Ah Saturday, 02 December 2023 07:46 AM

Kaala ivarai. This is ridiculous

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Sambo Saturday, 02 December 2023 08:01 AM

This will be in effect until you are kicked out sooner than ever. I hope what you eat from the Hilton Hotel is rice and pol sambol. You get all your meals on the expense of the public but you deny the people. Shame.

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Athk69 Saturday, 02 December 2023 08:07 AM

Mr. RW, reduce the government's expenditure. Such a waste of public funds.

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Premalal Perera Saturday, 02 December 2023 08:43 PM

They will never do it. That is their gravy train.

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Nimal Saturday, 02 December 2023 08:10 AM

That's right. Tax the people as much as you can so that they will not have any money to spend for their and needs and then face the election, whenever it comes. The result in very clear indeed. What more can we expect from a pin president who was totally rejected by the voters and who does not understand the heartbeat of the people?

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Sylvester Alwis Saturday, 02 December 2023 09:09 AM

Average IQ of citizens is very low. All communities are too religious only to show off each other. Huge number of people depend on public sector for their income and don't accept that many not needed. Govt's only known reliable income seems to be foreign remittance from workers, taxing people, and little tourism. So many unproductive people against a very few productive.

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Sokrates Saturday, 02 December 2023 09:14 AM

It is best for Ranil to introduce a special commodity levy on all foodstuffs, except rice, dhal and bread. Humans don't need anything more to survive.

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ChildOfGod Sunday, 03 December 2023 09:43 AM

Sokrates, you do have a sense of humor and a diplomatic way of putting it. I hope the MASSES are getting ready for the fight of their lives, seems to be the only way to get the message across.

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Lawry Saturday, 02 December 2023 09:17 AM

Happy Christmas.

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Ah Saturday, 02 December 2023 01:48 PM

Now there would be rich and poor. RW will kill the Middle class. Already half gone to the poor class. Whats more left. You are over reacting Mr President . i was a supporter of RW but now

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Nincompoop president Saturday, 02 December 2023 01:52 PM

That's fine as long you and our honourable Rajapaksa family are provided with all these items at the tax payers expense. We citizens will bare the brunt of bankruptcy. Oh btw are you enjoying the food and beverages in your latest junket with your bum boys?

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Christian Saturday, 02 December 2023 02:16 PM

Spoilt the Christmas spirit for us.Ay all Christmas goodies that you touch be rotten.Such a spoil sport.

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Siripala Gunasinha Saturday, 02 December 2023 02:16 PM

Sri lankans are very good at commenting and criticising without even looking at the context. Not sure how many of the commentators would even by any of above non essential imported goodswhich have alternatives produced in SL.

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Citizen k Saturday, 02 December 2023 04:00 PM

You cannot produce raisins in Sri Lanka as we don't grow quality grapes.Think about it.

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Sanoj Sarathchandra Saturday, 02 December 2023 06:51 PM

Grapes grow best in a cooler climate, does Sri Lanka not have Nuwara Eliya???

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Fathima Lai Sunday, 03 December 2023 04:38 AM

Potatoes and onions are also imported and locally produced. But locally produced ones are for the rich and 3 times higher prices even without tax than imported ones.

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Mohamed Burhan Saturday, 02 December 2023 02:26 PM

Talking only about the most essential food commodity to have a proper meal for a poor or a middle class man(if their is) it is not possible.Today I saw a kg of Samba is Rs.650!!! Every item is beyond reach.New tax levy on items! It is mental agony now to think about this.when some money is available buy and eat.

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Dee Saturday, 02 December 2023 03:39 PM

Most of these items are NOT daily staples. But noting from the comments made here ( by so called educated) everyone will blame the government and increase prices of local products as well (including gotukola) who knows? Even 3 wheeler fares will be increased citing special commodities levy! And the clowns will keep blaming the president and still use them.

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Sam Silva Saturday, 02 December 2023 07:49 PM

Yes. This is rich elite people food. The ordinary people will not get effected but the staple for majority people should be reduced as a result.

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sam Saturday, 02 December 2023 04:13 PM

This is how RR controls the cost of living!

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Rajiv De Silva Saturday, 02 December 2023 04:35 PM

More overseas trips. Hooray!!!

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Paramanathan Saturday, 02 December 2023 05:07 PM

This government is administering the country on a ruthless way without any consideration to the plight of the people. What they know is to enforce tax in different forms to confuse the masses. This implies that current president Ranil Wickremesinghe and the bunch of cabinet ministers are not at all people oriented and ruthlessly crushing any protest march using the police and army. Government is like a parrot doing everything that pleases IMF without any program in place to improve local productivity. We have the worst president ever as he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and an alien to poverty of the people. He is expecting people to eat cake if bread is in short supply.

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navratne willamune Saturday, 02 December 2023 06:09 PM

not going to ean much money out of this, just a token jesture

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Sanoj Sarathchandra Saturday, 02 December 2023 06:48 PM

All of the commodities listed here; are and can be produced in Sri Lanka. Those that live in Sri Lanka that require 'imported products' for the name can and will pay the tax. Those that live in Sri Lanka and understand that all of the commodities listed are and can be produced on this Paradise Island will not pay the tax. Stop complaining about the imported taxes and start producing and exporting fom this Paradise Island.

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ROSH Saturday, 02 December 2023 06:53 PM

Well unelected master debating president needs to put increasing the price of imported goods. It’s essentially important to keep his god straight when he master debate in the parliament tobe immortal. Remember we need to keep his essential item protected when we build his statue without his trousers. Please don’t let anyone eat before he enters the mile high club. God bless Sri Lanka

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Proud Boy Saturday, 02 December 2023 07:33 PM

What an easy job it is to be President of Sri Lanka. You don’t have to be clever or smart. Just tax everybody under fancy tax classifications.

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JDF in Canada Saturday, 02 December 2023 07:54 PM

You Sri lankans have one more chance to kick these buggers out of politics at the next elections. If you fail you all will drown in the very cesspit created by you and for you.

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Buddhist Saturday, 02 December 2023 10:28 PM

Ranil is facilitating the "paga taking" by Ministers and other departmental heads while charging exorbitant taxes on people. I suspect the firing of the Sports Minister was orchestrated by Ravi Karunanayake to permit the stealing of money from SL Cricket to fund the UNP election funds the same way he did by the Central Bank Roberry.

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AJ Sunday, 03 December 2023 06:29 AM

Government, please stop draining public by such taxes , instead try to collect debt of outstanding loans of billions by politicians and associates, collect Sugar and such taxes, stop corruption in customs,exercise dept.ect. ,check politicians tax files,join with world bodies try to recover rajapakshas loot, at the end tell public to pay their share

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Rishan Sunday, 03 December 2023 07:12 AM

Crazy.... bread and butter is the poorest meal... others anyway not much people will buy... for 500gtms of fruit can.buy a 5kg rice packet...

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Rishan Sunday, 03 December 2023 07:12 AM

Inflation at a single digit ...what a joke...

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Nathan Silvam Sunday, 03 December 2023 09:56 AM

I will raise bot hands without hesitating as Pin Gon MPs! Then I can get a Pin MP post, Pin Padi and a Pin Vehicle - Let the people die after they vote!

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sam Sunday, 03 December 2023 12:52 PM

RR has assisted those in need to sink

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Cherath Sunday, 03 December 2023 07:07 PM

Wonder what word jugglery Ranjith Siyambalapitiya will be using to 'explain away' this latest imposition... Raisins (dried grapes) and dates are luxury items in Sri Lanka now. Such a sorrowful state the children are put through.

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