Colombo, October 18 (Daily Mirror) -  Refuting reports that the government had increased taxes on several imported goods, the Finance Ministry said the government had only extended the taxes imposed by the previous government.

The Ministry said the Gazette notification which was issued on October 14, 2024 on five imported goods had only extended the Gazette notification which had been issued on October 14 last year.

The Ministry said the gazette notification expired on October 13, 2024 and it was extended till December 31, 2024 as it is.

It also said that the government had not imposed new taxes and the concessionary tax of 25 cent on a kilo of whole and flaked Mysore lentils has been continued while the special commodity levy on the other four goods have been extended in its previous rates in a move to protect the local fisheries industry and fruit cultivation and also considering the outflow of foreign exchange.

The Ministry further said that even though a gazette notification is normally issued for an year, it was extended only till December 31 this year for a proper study of the taxes.