Taxes on sanitary napkins not increased - Trade Minister

A meeting held at the Ministry of Trade today (25) revealed that the current prices of sanitary napkins will remain the same.

At the meeting, local manufacturers of sanitary napkins have pointed out that the 30% tax imposed on sanitary napkins by the previous government has been reduced by 15% from the current budget. The remaining 15% has been imposed as a Cess Tax.

However, the current prices of sanitary napkins in the market have not changed, they added.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Trade stated that the local manufacturers of sanitary napkins have requested the import duty of Rs 300 per kilogram of sanitary napkins imposed in 2018 be re-imposed.

In response, Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena stated that there is no need to import sanitary napkins as local manufacturers are able to supply 100% of the country’s demand.