Nov 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has requested from the Treasury to continue the import tax on big onion for another six months.

Sri Lanka government increased import tax on one kilo of big onions from 25 rupees to 50 rupees in August this year. The prohibitive tax has completely prevented imports of big onions paving way for the local producers to obtain a fair price.

The Minister said the President had advised to increase the local production of big onions to meet 50 percent of the country's requirement by 2015.

Sri Lankans consume around 240,000 to 250,000 metric tons of big onions per year.

Minister Abeywardena said the traders have stocks of 110,000 metric tons of big onions at present. They are now being issued to the market.