Sugar tax levied on carbonated and fruit drinks to be cut down

 Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Finance Ministry's secretary to undertake measures in reducing the taxes levied on sugar used in the manufacturing of carbonated and fruit drinks.

Mr. Rajapaksa had issued the order following a meeting held with biscuit and fruit drink manufacturers at the Prime Minister's Secretariat today (Nov 30).

Accordingly, upto six and nine grams of sugar used for carbonated and fruit drinks respectively will be exempted from tax payments.

In addition to this, the 50 cents tax which was imposed on 1 gram of sugar used for fruit drinks has been cut down to 30 cents.

Manufacturers had pointed out that the cost of a soft drink could be cut down buy 30 percent due to this move.

Meanwhile, representatives of biscuit manufacturing companies pointed out that the previous government had made tentative arrangements to impose a tax on the sugar that was used in manufacturing biscuits. However, Mr. Rajapaksa said that the new government will not be imposing a tax of that nature.