Sri Lanka Health Minister refuses to grant concessions to companies on proposed sugar tax for sweetened beverages
Sri Lanka's Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne says that he refuses to give any concessions to beverage companies regarding the sugar tax on sweetened beverages proposed in the 2018 budget.
The 2018 budget has proposed applying a tax of 50 cents per gram of sugar in sweetened beverages.
The Minister said representatives of the beverage companies had asked for concessions but he has stressed that the relief should be given to the people.
Dr. Rajitha Senaratne made this statement while addressing a ceremony held at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo recently to present awards and certificates to the winners of the World Diabetes Day.
As a measure to control the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) the Sri Lanka, government first...