President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has proposed sharp reductions in the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on several essential imported food items, including sprats, Maldive fish and dried chillies, in a move aimed at easing the cost-of-living burden on consumers.
Presenting the 2027 Budget in Parliament today (12), the President said the tax reductions were intended to minimise the impact of rising prices of essential food items.
Under the proposals, the Special Commodity Levy on imported sprats will be reduced from Rs. 100 to Rs. 10 per kilogram, while the levy on Maldive fish will be slashed from Rs. 302 to Rs. 10 per kilogram.
The levy on both powdered and unpowdered dried chillies will also be reduced by Rs. 50 per kilogram.
The revised levies are scheduled to take effect from November 13, 2026.
The government expects the tax revisions to help reduce the cost of essential food items and provide relief to consumers.
