Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-11-13

Programme for Economic Revival

Action is being taken by the Government to revive the economy by strengthening the local entrepreneurs and industries through relaxation of excessive taxes, empowering the agricultural sector and providing reliefs to the consumers through reduction of prices of the essential commodities. Under this, it has been proposed to provide various reliefs such as reduction of prices of fuel and the essential commodities, provision of debt reliefs to farmers, small scale mill owners and the women living in drought affected areas, providing chemical fertilizer at concessionary price, lowering the high tax burden, providing tax concessions to local agriculture, constructions, small scale businessmen, those who are engaged in foreign employment, professionals and small and medium scale entrepreneurs, and uplifting the livelihood of the Samurdhi beneficiaries. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, to make amendments to the relevant Acts for obtaining the legal sanction required for the implementation of the proposals made by the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs on 2018‑11‑01, was approved by the Cabinet.