(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Sri Lankan government is expecting to earn an additional income of 22 billion rupees from a hike in cigarette and alcohol taxes, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has said.
Excise tax on all types of liquor including wine and beer has been increased by 20 percent since midnight yesterday (03). Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has stated in a Twitter message that the tax on cigarettes will be increased by 20 percent with effect from January 1st.
Accordingly, a 90 rupee cigarette will be increased to 105 rupees, an 85 rupee cigarette will be increased to 100 rupees and a 70 rupee cigarette will be increased to 80 rupees. A 60 rupee cigarette is expected to increase to 70 rupees and a 15 rupee cigarette to 24 rupees.
In addition to this, Mr. Siyambalapitiya said that a tax of 2 rupees will be charged for every beedi produced in Sri Lanka.
The State Minister said that President Ranil Wickramasinghe has raised this taxes through the Gazette Notices No. 2312/70 and 2312/68.
