Special Commodity Levy on imported fruits to be hiked

COLOMBO (News1st): The government will increase the special commodity levy on imported fruits like apples and oranges from Friday, a state document showed on Thursday. Last week, the government had increased the levy on palm oil by Rs 100. The move came as the Sri Lankan rupee slid to a record low of Rs 200.47 against the US dollar on April 9. The rupee traded slightly firmer at Rs 195.58 on Thursday. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as finance minister, will issue a gazette on Friday announcing that the commodity levy on imported fruits such as oranges, grapes, pears, cherries, plums, and fresh apples will be hiked ranging from Rs 30 to Rs 65 depending on the product. According to the gazette, the levy on cherries would be increased from its existing rate of Rs 250 to Rs 315 - recording an increase of Rs 65, the highest among the fruits. The commodity levy on dried grapes will be increased by Rs 60, dried oranges and plums by Rs 50, pears by Rs 45, fresh oranges by Rs 40, fresh grapes by Rs 35, and fresh apples by Rs 30. Further, the levy imposed on imported fruits such as lemons, grapefruit, and peaches is to also be increased from Friday.