The debate on the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill commenced in Parliament, a short while ago.

A proposal to debate the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament this morning (11 Dec.), with 92 MPs voting in favour and 41 against, while one MP abstained during the vote.

The division was held after opposition parliamentarians had objected to a debate on the Bill following the commencement of parliamentary proceedings this morning. 

The Bill was initially scheduled to be taken up for debate on Sunday (10 Nov.), however, the parliamentary session was adjourned by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe due to a lack of quorum.

The debate on the Second Reading of the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and the Finance Bill was taken up in the House last morning, during which State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said 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 State Minister said that 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.