“3 new taxes, 7 tax hikes”: Ajith P. Perera challenges President

Newswire reports that opposition MP Ajith P. Perera challenged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent account of tax policy in Parliament. Perera said the government had made no new tax introductions since taking office in 2024, according to the president’s claim as described by the outlet.

Newswire reports that Perera counted three new measures: a 15% levy on earnings from exported services, an 18% value-added tax on online services and a 5% deduction at source from some professional-service payments. He also pointed to increases affecting interest earnings, profits from asset sales, financial-sector activity, alcohol, tobacco and gambling operators, the outlet reports.

Newswire reports that Perera questioned whether Dissanayake knew of the changes, given that the president also holds the Finance Minister portfolio. Perera alleged that the government had raised the public’s tax load without making full use of the money collected, while people remained under financial strain.

Newswire reports that Dissanayake had said his administration brought in no new taxes after taking office and had substantially lowered some existing ones; he also promised additional reductions in the coming Budget. The outlet says economic and tax records support several changes Perera cited, including a 15% tax on some income originating abroad, a higher deduction on interest and VAT coverage for online services.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.