stry of Finance and Planning has announced that the import taxes on big onions and potatoes have been reduced with effect from midnight Sunday.Import taxes on potatoes have been reduced by Rs. 30 ($0.23 USD), big onions by Rs. 25 ($0.19 USD) and red onions by Rs.10 ($0.08 USD) a kilo. The tax on big onion and potatoes now will be Rs. 10 per kilo and the duty on red onion will be Rs. five per kilo.
The Ministry has taken the measure following instructions given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Treasury officials to slash import duties to ensure an abundant supply of the items in the market for the holiday season.
Sri Lanka currently produces about 50 percent of the local requirements of these food items. The country expects to be self-sufficient in these items by 2015.
