Sanitary napkins subjected to unreasonably high taxes in Sri Lanka: analysis

The total tax burden on sanitary napkins in Sri Lanka currently sits at 47.1%, which is a significantly higher rate compared to the tax levied on selected non-essential items, gold jewellery, raw silk, golf clubs and golf balls and military artillery weapons, the PublicFinance.lk revealed.

PublicFinance.lk, run by Verité Research, an independent think tank that provides strategic analysis for Asia in the areas of economics, politics, law, and media.

Citing figures from Sri Lanka Customs, the PublicFinance.lk revealed that sanitary napkins are subjected to unreasonably high taxes in Sri Lanka, which amounts to 47.1% as opposed to 30.6% on gold jewellery, 22.3% raw silk, and 22.3% golf clubs, golf balls and military artillery weapons.

Meanwhile, a recent survey has made an alarming revelation about period poverty in Sri Lanka. As per the study, 40% of menstruating women and girls in Sri Lanka have stopped using menstrual products against the backdrop of the ongoing economic crisis.

Accordingly, in 2019, as many as 2.1 million Sri Lankan women aged between 15 and 47 years had not used menstrual products due to high prices.

The study showed that this figure will likely see a sharp rise as the cost of living continues to soar due to the economic crisis.