The special commodity levy on imported maize has been raised to Rs. 50 per kilogram, under a gazette extraordinary issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The revised rate took effect on May 5, 2026, and will run through December 31, 2026, Ada Derana reported. The Ministry did not publish a rationale alongside the order or disclose the previous tariff level.
Maize is the primary feedstock for the local poultry and animal feed industry, and the special commodity levy is the principal lever the Treasury uses to manage import-vs-local procurement balances on agricultural staples. A higher per-kilogram levy raises the landed cost of imports and strengthens demand for domestic maize purchased from upcountry farmers, while squeezing margins for poultry producers who source through importers.
The order is the latest in a series of trade-policy adjustments the Finance Ministry has issued since the crude-oil price shock pushed import costs higher across the board and as Sri Lanka tightens fiscal management under its IMF programme.
