Cabinet approves changes to International Telecommunications Operators Levy

A proposal made by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to present the Gazette removing the tax on applicable local telecom charges from 1 June was approved by the Government this week. 

The Cabinet gave the greenlight to the Finance Minister to present Gazette No 2133/19, dated 14 May 2019, to Parliament in accordance with the Finance Act No 11 of 2004, in order to remove the tax on local tariffs from 1 June, the Information Department said in a statement on Cabinet decisions. The Gazette will also extend the validity period of tax distribution rate (taxes on incoming international calls, taxes payable on international calls for particular telephone numbers), tax distribution rate as telecommunication development fee, and tax payable on local admission fee, the statement said.