Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to waive the Sri Lankan film industry’s entertainment tax for the years 2021 and 2022.
The Prime Minister’s Office has stated that the Prime Minister has taken a decision in the light of the requests made to him by industry professionals in the country.
- Accordingly, the relevant ministries have granted permission to waive the Sri Lankan entertainment tax for 2021-2022, covering the entire island.
- In addition, the entertainment tax on the cinema industry will be reduced to 7.5 percent from 2023 onwards.
Up to now, for each local government, the entertainment tax on cinema varied from 5% to 25%. However, under the new decision, the entertainment tax will be uniform across the country.
J. J. Ratnasiri, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and Prof. Kapila Gunawardena, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs of Buddhasasana, today gave their approval to this decision (11).
