PARLIAMENT

Hon. Lal Premanath,—To ask the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that a cess is levied on finished tea exported from Sri Lanka;

(ii) of the amount cess levy that is imposed upon one kilogram of tea at present;

(iii) of the income that was earned through the imposition of the cess during the year 2024;

(iv) of the amounts that have been given to the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority and the Tea Research Institute from that income separately; and

(v) whether he will present a report on how each of the aforementioned institute has spent those amounts of money?

(b) If not, why?