He was replying to a question raised by Member of Parliament Premnath C Dolawatta regarding how the price of sanitary napkins has increased and how it has become a health hazard and directly affects school children.
The Minister of Trade said that the Ministry of Health has informed him to re-review whether the price of these products can be reasonably reduced and special attention has already been given to that.
The trade minister said that a discussion will be held this evening to look into the possibility and said that he will take the most appropriate action regarding the matter.
Rohini Kaviratne, Member of Parliament of Samagi Jana Balawega, who spoke, said that a forty-two per cent tax has been imposed on sanitary napkins recently. She revealed that with the increase in VAT, it has increased to 45 per cent, she added.
For schoolgirls and women, this is an essential sanitary amenity, but sanitary napkins have become a luxury item today. I have to spend the price of two to three kilos of rice to buy that packet. The alternative is not to use them. Because of that, a number of health issues have arisen, “she said.
Schoolgirls have been forced to skip schools due to the high price of this commodity, she added.
