Category: Economy and Markets

Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama gave a lesson to the United National Party in political-speak, by explaining his failure to keep to budget targets and pushing the budget deficit to 8.5% of GDP. Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama gave a lesson to the United National Party in political-speak, by explaining his failure to keep to budget targets […]

Three wheelers to be sheltered from future fuel price increases and three-wheeler leasing to be exempt from VAT.Three wheelers to be sheltered from future fuel price increases and three-wheeler leasing to be exempt from VAT. “About 200,000 three-wheeler operators carry one million passengers daily, occupying the least amount of road space and using the lowest […]

Putting in place a much-needed reform, the government is planning to impose PAYE taxes on public servants salaries, while giving a minimum of Rs.2,500 salary increase. Putting in place a much-needed reform, the government is planning to impose PAYE taxes on public servants salaries, while giving a minimum of Rs. 2,500 salary increase. But the […]

A person who pays an electricity bill of Rs 10,000, a phone bill of Rs 10,000, a credit card spend of more than Rs 25,000 a month, or buys a ticket to go abroad, must file a tax return if at least 4 of the conditions are met.A person who pays an electricity bill of […]

The fledgling software industry will get a leg up through concessional sops to achieve a US$ 1 bn export earnings by 2012.The fledgling software industry will get a leg up through concessional sops to achieve a US$ 1 bn export earnings by 2012. In order to support this industry, the public sector will be required […]

Sri Lanka’s cash strapped government plans to fill up the coffers with higher taxes, but has scrapped plans for privatisation, according the budget estimates for 2005 released on Thursday Sri Lanka’s cash strapped government plans to fill up the coffers with higher taxes, but has scrapped plans for privatisation, according the budget estimates for 2005 […]

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels accused President Chandrika Kumaratunga of “deceit” as she gave the guerrillas two weeks to decide if they wanted to revive stalled peace negotiations Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels accused President Chandrika Kumaratunga of “deceit” as she gave the guerrillas two weeks to decide if they wanted to revive stalled peace […]

The government plans to revive the local construction industry with housing schemes for migrant workers and public servants and a cess on contractors.The government plans to revive the local construction industry with housing schemes for migrant workers and public servants and a cess on contractors. The budget on Thursday announced that the Construction Industry Guarantee […]

The government abandons single band VAT and is planning to tax weddings and wedding services, and reception hall rentals at a new higher rate of 18 percent.The government abandons single band VAT and is planning to tax weddings and wedding services, and reception hall rentals at a new higher rate of 18 percent. “The single […]

Agriculture is to be exempt from income tax, with earnings from the cultivation and sale of non-processed plants, non-taxable for five years from April 1 next year. Agriculture is to be exempt from income tax, with earnings from the cultivation and sale of non-processed plants, non-taxable for five years from April 1 next year. “This […]

Highlights of Sri Lanka’s 2005 national budget. The UPFA government’s budgetary strategy for the next three years. 1. Raise government revenue, within a medium term framework, to 19 percent of GDP and generate a revenue surplus in the budget equivalent to 3% of GDP. 2. Raise public investment to eight percent of GDP. 3. Reduce […]

Setting the background to the 2005 budget speech Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama says the budget was prepared entirely by local experts without a single foreign expert. Setting the background to the 2005 budget speech Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama says the budget was prepared entirely by local experts without a single foreign expert. He said the […]