The Chief Government Whip, Prasanna Ranatunga says that the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill will be debated and passed in Parliament tomorrow (Dec. 11).
Debate on the Second Reading of the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and the Finance Bill was taken up in the House this morning.
Although the debate was scheduled to be held until 04:30 p.m. today, as per a decision taken by the Committee on Parliamentary Business, the parliamentary session was adjourned by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe, until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow due to a lack of quorum.
Commencing debate on VAT amendments in Parliament, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said Value-Added Tax (VAT) would be imposed on 97 out of the 138 goods that were previously freed from the tax, in a bid to boost state revenue.
Speaking further, the lawmaker said Short Message Service (SMS) in fixed telephone networks will also be subjected to VAT, given the increased number of text messages sent.
However, medicines, equipment used by disabled persons, rice flour, wheat flour, vegetables, fruits, liquid milk, and the ‘Suwaseriya’ ambulance service will not be subjected to VAT, the state minister assured.
