An extremely high tax will be levied on tobacco products, Minister of Special Assignments Sarath Amunugama said.

Speaking at a press conference at the SLFP headquarters today, he said that the government will impose a tax which is unthinkable to many.

The tax percentage currently stands at 72 percent.

The proposal to increase the tax on tobacco products was presented to the Cabinet by the President and the Health Minister as a joint proposal in July. Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said recently that the tax will be imposed irrespective of the opposition by tobacco companies and others.