The Government has decided to provide a six-month deferral period for the hotels registered under Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority to pay their 1% levy on turnover, a Government Information Department statement said.

The Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga to grant a six-month deferral period from 1 January 2019 for the payment of Tourism Development Levy (TDL) and to recover the lease amount in 12 equal instalments, the statement said.

The move comes as another financial relief for the tourist establishments hit hard by April’s Easter Sunday terror attacks. Tourist arrivals plunged by 50% and 70% soon after the 21 April Easter Sunday terror attacks on three churches and an equal number of five-star hotels, killing 250 people, including 50 foreigners.

Tourist hotels, shops and travel agents registered with the SLTDA are subjected to pay 1% of turnover as the Tourism Development Levy to the Government.

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