Black tea not on imports list

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

The government maintains a firm policy of not permitting the import of black tea, Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told Parliament yesterday. He made this observation in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera during the round of questions for oral answers.

The minister said the government grants permission to import only special products such as green tea.

He said there are regulations that prohibit the import of black tea.

The minister said many programmes are in place to improve the productivity of tea smallholders.

He said under the present budgetary proposals, a relief package of Rs 350,000 has been granted to tea smallholders.