The government has decided to further reduce the existing tax on imported rice with immediate effect.

Accordingly, Special Commodity Levy on imported rice will be reduced to Rs.5 from Rs.15 with effect from midnight yesterday (January 27).

On the advice of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has taken this decision to provide urgent relief to the people.

Special Commodity Levy has been reduced for imported varieties of brown raw rice, Nadu and Samba. However, the tax relief does not apply to Basmati varieties.

The government took this decision in response to the exploitation of consumers by certain unscrupulous traders who hoarded stocks and made fast money in the recent past.