TAXES on Sugar & Grams Prevent Traders to Sell at Control Prices

Followed by  gazette notice published  last night, Minister of Commerce and Industry ,  Rishad  Bathiudeen said,  the control  prices for 16 essential commodities would come into force from  today (15).

 Traders selling control price items at higher prices will be nabbed from today, he warned.

Ministry secretary T.M.K.B. Tennakoon said the Consumer Affairs Authority has been given the necessary instructions.

However, the association of essential commodity importers and traders President Nihal Seneviratne said, sugar and grams cannot be sold  at the control prices gazetted by the government.

If those commodities are to be sold at the control  prices, the taxes imposed on them should be removed, he said
Presently, sugar has to be imported at Rs. 115 a kilo, of which Rs. 30 is government taxes, he said, noting that if that that tax is removed, sugar can be sold at the Rs. 95 price.

The controlled prices could lead to inconveniences by retailers, Further he said.