Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe has dismissed claims that the National People’s Power government imposed a Rs. 65 tax on rice, clarifying that the tax was originally implemented on May 18, 2023, long before his government came into power.
Speaking during the budget debate, Samarasinghe stated that his administration, which assumed power following the presidential election on September 14, 2024, merely renewed the existing tax.
The minister explained that the decision to maintain the tax was made to ensure fairness for both farmers and consumers.
He emphasized that the continuation of the tax is intended to balance economic interests and provide stability to the agricultural sector.
