Tag: lankabusinessonline

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The railway will operate as a commercial enterprise within the department structure, says the Finance Minister.The railway will operate as a commercial enterprise within the department structure, says the Finance Minister. Delivering the budget plans for 2005 Minister of Fianance, Sarath Amunugama said the railway authority law would be repealed but that the railway will […]

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 […]

In a hopeful sign that responsible economic management may be returning to the country, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said, petrol and diesel would be market priced in the future. In a hopeful sign that responsible economic management may be returning to the country, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said, petrol and diesel would be market priced […]

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 […]