Colombo: In a move that may pose difficulties in the peace process, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has issued a notification imposing a five to 25 per cent customs duty on goods that would be allowed into territory controlled by it in Northern Sri Lanka.

The notification published in a Colombo-based Tamil daily 'Sudar Oli', is the first of its kind since the tigers formally called a truce with government to shun violence. It gave a detailed list of items on which duty ranging from five per cent to 25 per cent would be imposed under 61 heads.

It, however, exempted limited quantities of household items up to specified quantities for domestic use, while fully exempting 21 categories of items intended for use by students and children and a few essential items.

The LTTE also exempted employees of government Departments and non-government organizations entering 'Tamil Eelam' on transfer 'from Sri Lanka' from the duty.

"A similar exemption is available for those coming "from Sri Lanka and other countries" to reside permanently in 'Eelam', the LTTE said in notification, the first since the truce resulted in the opening of a key highway for free movement of people and goods into the rebel-held Vanni region.

While the imposition of local taxes by LTTE and a 'duty' on items entering its territory is not a new practice, this is the first time that LTTE outlined a formal duty structure. It operates a customs counter at the entry point at Omanthai, 17 km from Vavuniya town.

PTI