The gazette notification allowing the import of selected spices for re-export has been revoked following a request made by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera from President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Cabinet meeting yesterday (March 11).
On Sunday, the Finance Ministry announced that import of selected spices including pepper, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, cumin and others for re-exportation purposes would be conditionally allowed, subject to the approval of the Controller General of Import and Export and a locally value addition of 35%.
This decision was taken after the Cabinet nod was given to issue relevant import licenses under the Import and Export Control Regulations.
On January 01, 2023, the government had banned importing spices to Sri Lanka. However, as per a memorandum presented by the Investment Promotion Minister on December 06, 2023, the Finance Ministry permitted the import of selected spices for re-export purposes.
