COLOMBO : In view of the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued an order to reduce the Special Commodity Levy imposed on Dates from Rs.200 to Rs.1 per Kg. from March 8.
The waiver only applies to Dates received as a gift or donation, without any foreign exchange involvement, from foreign governments, organizations, business entities, volunteer associations, well-wishers.
Muslims consume date to breakfast during the holy month of Ramadan. After a day-long fasting, it is an optional requirement for all Muslims to breakfast ( Iftar) with one or three dates.
Muslims form some eight percent of the Sri Lankan population of 22 million.
The holy month is likely to commence from March 22.
