New taxes on imported readymade garments by April

State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara says the government intends to impose a special tax on imported readymade garments from April 01 next year.

The State Minister of Batik, Hand loom and Local Apparel Products added that necessary steps will be taken to stop the importation of substandard garments into the country.

He said that they are expecting to introduce a tax system which would increase a price of LKR 200 to around LKR 450.

Sri Lanka will be increasing the production of domestic clothes in rural areas over the next five years. A programme for 10,000 manufacturers of hand loom textiles, 200 villages and the equipment for this purpose will be launched.

The Government is planning to revise the tax on imports of cloth to LKR 100 per kilogram and may raise that amount to LKR 185.

According to media reports, Jayasekera hopes to upgrade small textile schools and enable students to turn into entrepreneurs.