Sri Lanka, Oct. 11 -- Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, requesting tax concessions on essential school supplies and food items for schoolchildren through the 2027 Budget.

In his letter, Rajapaksa highlighted the need for such relief amid rising education expenses for schoolchildren and the increasing cost of living faced by families.

He recalled that during election rallies in August 2024, the President had pledged to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on school supplies and food under a National People's Power (NPP) government.

Rajapaksa also noted that the NPP's 2024 presidential election manifesto proposed introducing a zero per cent VAT rate on essential goods and services.

Accordingly, h...