New tax benefits and reduction for bank deposits and retiring employees

Nov 16, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka to halve the surcharge on individual deposits and hopes to increase the tax free threshold for retiring employees as well as remove tax on capital gains and benefits.President and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapakse told Parliament the taxable interest level will be raised from 108,000 to 300,000 rupees and […]

‘s complicated VAT system becomes more complex

November 16, 2006 (LBO) — The multiple bank value added tax system of Sri Lanka which also has a non recoverable ‘VAT’ tax on financial firms became more complicated with a five percent charge on smaller business and a range of new adjustments.Jewellery manufactures who export would have to pay a one percent ESC on […]

‘s Tiger rebels

Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – A British envoy was holding talks with Sri Lanka’s Tiger rebels Thursday to help salvage a faltering peace initiative, while in the capital the president wooed moderate Tamils, officials said.British MP Paul Murphy toured the violence-hit port city of Trincomalee Wednesday and began talks with Tamil Tiger guerrillas at the […]

Rights panel backs UN child soldiers charge against Sri Lanka

Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – A New York-based rights group asked Sri Lanka’s government Thursday to arrest security force members allegedly involved in forcibly recruiting child soldiers on behalf of a Tamil rebel faction. Human Rights Watch said its investigations supported the findings of a top UN official who charged Monday that Sri Lankan security […]

Sri Lanka asks Tigers to resume talks as war budget bites

Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president appealed to Tiger rebels Thursday to enter talks and end spiralling violence on the island as a British envoy moved to jumpstart stalled peace efforts. The deficit of 235 billion rupees (2.18 billion dollars) is to be financed mainly through domestic and foreign borrowings. Please click to […]

India expresses deep concern over civilian killings in Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI, Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) – India’s prime minister has expressed deep concern over rising civilian deaths in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, saying there was no justification for the violence, the Press Trust of India reported.Manmohan Singh, in a letter to the chief minister of southern Tamil Nadu state M. Karunanidhi, said he planned […]

Government promises better budget for Sri Lanka; opposition skeptical

November 16, 2006 (LBO) – The government says the upcoming budget would be growth oriented, with medium term objectives in view, while the opposition which is supporting the budget in parliament, warns that the poor would be hurt if fiscal weaknesses continue. Singapore and Hong Kong which have inflation of around two percent do not […]

Sri Lanka gives tax incentives to develop shipping industry

November 16, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to give a range of tax incentives and relaxed foreign borrowing restrictions to boost shipping and allied maritime activity, as part of budget proposals announced Thursday.“Sri Lanka is an island nation which is active in international trade, and we want develop shipping, and shipping service activities as […]

‘s construction industry to get tax concessions

November 16, 2006 (LBO) – The government is giving tax benefits to the domestic construction industry in Sri Lanka to help them undertake large projects such as building flyover and townships.The government said it wanted to implement a a co-ordinated program with organizations in the industry and skills development institutions to produce craftsmen to fill […]

Sri Lanka offers cheap credit for small and medium entrepreneurs

November 16, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is offering a 13.295 billion rupee credit line on concessionary terms to develop small and medium scale industries, President Mahinda Rajapakse said Thursday.He said over 100,000 such industries will be eligible to tap the funding line with interest payments spread between 6.5 percent to 14.0 percent. Sectors eligible […]

Slain Sri Lankan Tamil legislator cremated amid protests

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka, Nov 15, 2006 (AFP) – Slain Tamil legislator Nadarajah Raviraj was cremated at his home district of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka Wednesday as supporters shut businesses to protest his assassination.Raviraj, 44, was cremated at the Chavakachcheri cemetery while heavily armed security forces kept a low profile along the funeral procession from […]

Four children abducted as Sri Lankan military faces probe

Nov 15, 2006 (AFP) – Unidentified gunmen abducted four students in eastern Sri Lanka, a Tamil pro-rebel website said Wednesday as the president promised to probe allegations security forces recruited child soldiers.The Tamilnet.com website said the four youths were abducted Tuesday while working on a road construction project to supplement family income. The incident came […]

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