Sri Lanka increases import duties on potatoes and onions to benefit local farmers

The Sri Lankan government announced today that the import taxes on big onions and potatoes have been increased with effect from midnight Monday.

The import taxes have been increased under a directive from the President to maintain a reasonable price that would benefit the local farmers as the local big onion and potato harvest has reached the markets.

The import tax on one kilo of big onions has been increased from 25 rupees to 50 rupees while the tax on one kilo of potatoes has been increased up to 30 rupees from 10 rupees.

According to the Ministry of Trade big onion farmers of Dambulla can sell their harvest to the state-owned retail store network Lak Sathosa for a certified price of 65 rupees for one kilo of onions.