The Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has stated that the price of a cigarette will be increased by Rs. 05.00 in accordance with the 2022 budget proposals.
Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol says that the price of a cigarette has not increased for about three years and therefore this increase is a special occasion.
He further stated that according to the price formula, if this price increases every year, the price of a cigarette will increase to close to Rs. 100.00 within five years.
He has further stated that this increase in the price of cigarettes is a revenue to the government and with the increase in the price of a cigarette by Rs. 5.00 the tax revenue to Sri Lanka is Rs. 08 billion per year.
He also said that by the year 2026, the price of a cigarette will be between Rs.25-30
