Sri Lanka raises taxes ahead of foreign debt deal

Sri Lanka raises taxes ahead of foreign debt restructuring deal

/ 05:34 PM January 01, 2024

COLOMBO  —Sri Lanka slapped a new 18 percent value added tax (VAT) on fuel, mobile phones and computers from Monday to raise desperately needed revenue ahead of a foreign debt restructuring.

An earlier VAT of 15 percent on other consumer goods was also increased to 18 percent as the government sought to shore up its finances while Sri Lanka emerges from its worst economic crisis.

“In order to achieve economic stability, we must continue to forge ahead in this demanding path — one that is not adorned with flowers but presents formidable challenges,” President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his New Year message.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis: From protests to IMF bailout

FEATURED STORIES

Months of civil unrest sparked by the economic crisis forced the resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa when protesters stormed his residence in July 2022.

His successor Wickremesinghe has raised taxes and cut government subsidies to comply with an International Monetary Fund bailout and cracked down on anti-government protests.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Sri Lanka reaches debt restructuring deal with creditor nations

Article continues after this advertisement

The IMF rescue program requires him to finalize by May a restructure of the island country’s $46 billion external debt after a government default in 2022.

The higher taxes kicked in as the government negotiated with its bilateral lenders and sovereign bond holders to reschedule repayments, a key condition of the IMF bailout.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: debt restructuring, Sri Lanka, taxes

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.