Two per cent tax on mobile phones from Aug 15

(August 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A two per cent environmental tax on mobile phones will be imposed from August 15, according a gazette notification issued.

The tax will apply to both, post paid and pre-paid mobile phones.

Taxes will also be imposed on transmission towers, electrical bulbs over 40 watt excluding CFL bulbs and on certain motorcycle and vehicle categories which consisting of Internal Combustion engines. These taxes have already come into effect from August 1.

The company using transmission towers for TV and radio transmissions as well as for telecommunication purposes would have to pay Rs. 50,000 annually while if the tower is being shared they would have to pay Rs. 25,000 each.

For bulbs over 40 watts a tax of Rs. 3 will be charged while the tax on vehicles and motorcycles range from Rs. 300 to 400.

The funds generated from this would be used for the protection of environment.
- Sri Lanka Guardian