The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, by Gazette dated 2025.08.25, the Government increased the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on imported big onions from Rs. 10/kg to Rs. 50/kg, and on potatoes from Rs. 60/kg to Rs. 80/kg, stating it is to provide relief to farmers engaged in cultivating big onions and potatoes. This imposes an additional burden on 22 million consumers. Many question whether, in line with the stated objective, the potato and big onion farmer has in fact been protected. In a context where around 7 million people have fallen into poverty post-crisis, this decision has been widely criticized. Accordingly, I pose the following questions and expect specific answers and clarifications from the Government:

¶ 02 1. How many farmers currently cultivate big onions and potatoes in Sri Lanka? What are their harvesting seasons? Within those seasons, what were the local production volumes of big onions and potatoes in 2024? What percentage of domestic requirement did that production meet?

¶ 03 2. Through the SCL, what annual reliefs are granted to potato and big onion farmers? Will the Government table details? Does the Government confirm that, through these reliefs, adequate protection is afforded to all potato and big onion farmers?

¶ 04 3. Since the introduction of the SCL in 2007, what quantities of big onions and potatoes were imported; what duties were levied; on what dates were the relevant Gazette notifications issued; and what revenue was generated therefrom? Can those details for August 2025 also be tabled?