It is reported that Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said while attending a news conference held today (27) at the Government Information Department that it has been decided to increase the duty concession given at the airport for foreign workers returning to Sri Lanka from May 1st.
It is said that a circular has also been issued for that.
The minister of labor and foreign employment presented the cabinet paper to the cabinet to provide special duty concessions to foreign workers in addition to the duty concessions currently being given at the airport, and it has been approved by the cabinet.
According to the circular issued for this purpose, expatriate workers who legally send money through the banking system are eligible to get the increased duty concessions, and to give this duty concession under five categories, taking into account the amount of money sent through the banking system since the first of May last year. It is reported that they are working.
According to that, workers who have sent an amount between 2,400 – 4,799 US dollars will get a duty relief of 600 dollars, workers who have sent an amount between 4,800 – 7,199 dollars will get 960 dollars, and workers who have sent an amount between 7,200 – 11,999 dollars will get 1,440 dollars. It is reported that workers who have sent an amount between $12,000-$23,999 can get a duty relief of $2,400 and workers who have sent an amount of $24,00 or more can get a duty relief of $4,800.
Minister Manusha Nanayakkara who spoke further,
“We also worked to provide duty relief to expatriate workers. Accordingly, the circular to increase the duty relief for expatriate workers at the airport was issued yesterday. Accordingly, the increase in duty relief for expatriate workers at the airport will be effective from the first of May. It is possible to get those facilities through an app operated by the Central Bank.By registering through this app, it is possible to get customs concessions based on the amount of dollars sent to the country.
Also, last week the cabinet approved to introduce a low interest loan system for expatriate workers. Accordingly, expatriate workers can get loan facilities up to two million rupees. Also, the President informed the cabinet by presenting his observations that a program should be implemented for the workers who have returned to this country after working abroad to start business.
