Budget at a glance

* 15 per cent VAT reduced to 12 per cent

* Fertilizer subsidy to be continued (Rs.350 per 50 Kg bag)

* Price of a 50 Kg bag of fertilizer for tea smallholders reduced to Rs. 1,000, to ease their financial burden.

* A cess of Rs. 4 on every kilogram of tea imported.

* Ranaviru Welfare

*Monthly allowance paid to soldiers engaged in action increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.

*Rs. 3,500 million to commence the construction of few more RanaviruGammana with all facilities.

Concessions

*Rs. 30/= monthly discount for consumers using less than 90 units Rs. 20/= monthly discount for consumers using less than 15 units of water.

*Public Servants and Pensioners

*Cost-of living allowance to be increased to Rs. 4.500 per month with a minimum Rs.1,000 per month

*Rs.1,000 advance to purchase school books for their children increased to Rs.2,500.

*Festival advance increased from Rs.3,000 to Rs.5,000

*Pensioners Cost of Living allowance increased to Rs.2,000

To promote local producers

*Import duty on wheat grain increased from 6 percent to 10 per cent.

*A 15 per cent cess on imported black gram, kurakkan, cowpea and sesame seed, similar imports.

*Special commodity levy on imported milk powder increased from Rs. 5 to Rs. 15 per kg.

*Special commodity levy on imported sugar increased from Rs. 14 to Rs. 16 per kg.

*Cess of Rs. 25 per kg on rubber latex and Rs. 4 per kg on tea imports

*A 25 per cent cess on imported maize and animal feed applicable including those in the BOI regime.

*A 5 percent cess on paper imports.

*Cess on polythene and plastic increased from 1 per cent to 5 per cent

*Cess on all imports of fruits and vegetables.

*Cess on refrigerators, fans and ceramicware increased by 50 per cent.

Other measures

* Rs.3,000 million to rehabilitate LTTE members.

* Rs.500 million to carry out resettlement in the North

*A monthly allowance of Rs.200 for children aged 1 to 5 in Samurdhi and low income estate families,

*A 1,000 mini Co-op City outlets at village level.

*Rs. 150 million for Jana Sabha Secretariats.

*Rs. 300 million to broaden training programs for rural youth in international sports such as badminton, tennis and swimming.

*Rs. 950 million to improve Rajarata, Wayamba, Sabaragamuwa, Uva Wellassa, Northern, South Eastern and Jaffna universities.

*Rs. 100 million to develop tourist villages in each province

*The telephone levy of 10 per cent on mobile and cordless to be applicable to fixed telephones.

*The fuel adjustment levy charged by the CEB will be reduced to 15 percent for a period of 1 year, for tourist hotels and industries