"Taxing the Rich & Giving it to Poor" - Interim Budget 2015 Summary

Admin | 29 Jan, 2015 12:06PM | Leave a comment
The Interim Budget 2015 is presented to the parliament by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.


  • Salaries of state sector servants increased by Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 5000 will be given in February/ remaining Rs. 5000 in June.

  • Request made for private sector employers to increase the salaries of private sector employees Rs. 2500

  • Reviewing of pensions – Increase of Rs. 1000 with effect from April.

  • Senior citizens with Rs. 1 million in their bank accounts to be given 15% interest rate.

  • An allowance of Rs. 20,000 to be paid for expectant mothers

  • 50% of the loan amounts borrowed by farmers to be waived off.

  • Hand tractors will be given away at concessionary rates / fertilizer concession will be continued + the quality will be increased.

  • A sum of Rs. 2000 billion [I think this is million] to be allocated to the fund reserved for kidney patients.

  • 13 essential goods price reduction by removal of taxes – with effect from midnight (sugar, milk powder, sustagen, flour, bread, green gram, sprats, canned fish, coriander, Maldive fish, chili powder).

  • School van fees reduced by 5%

  • Kerosene reduced by another Rs. 6 per liter

  • 12.5kg gas cylinder price reduced up to Rs. 1596 (Rs. 300 reduction)

  • Gold jewellery pawned to banks – that don’t exceed Rs. 200,000 – interest will be waived off.

  • Vehicle taxes reduction 15% for vehicles with engines below 1000 CC.

  • Cement prices to be reduced by Rs. 99

  • Marriage registration fee to be reduced up to Rs. 1000 from Rs. 5000.

  • The government has waived off the 25% tax paid by customers when reloading phones.

  • Special facilities for disabled war heroes – special loan scheme named Viru Diriya to be introduced in state banks/ maximum borrowing Rs. 500,000.

  • Mahapola scholarship fee to be increased upto Rs. 5000

  • Rs. 250 monthly allowance to be paid to pre-school teachers.

  • Dahami Diriya for Sunday school teachers – a monthly sum of Rs. 200 to be paid.

  • Every citizen to have a bank account – can be opened in commercial banks with an initial deposit of Rs. 250.

  • Public transportation costs to reduce by 50% for senior citizens.



  • Supergain tax – any company of which the profit exceeded Rs. 2000 million – tax amount worth 25% off its profit will be charged

  • All Sri Lankans who migrate to another country will be liable for an exit tax

  • Vehicle assembly plants have neglected their income tax payments during the previous regime. Rs. 12,0000 million revenue expected through prompt payments [is this 120 billion? I feel like the Daily Mirror is messing up some of its numbers]

  • Casino business-owners to pay Rs: 1000 million as a tax – first payment to be made before April.

  • One time tax of Rs. 250 million to be paid by telecommunication providers

  • One time tax of Rs. 250 million to be paid by mobile phone operators

  • Rs. 1000 million tax imposed on television stations dedicated to sports

  • Rs. 1.5 million permit fee will be charged from vehicle importers.

  • Mansion tax – Rs. 1 million per annum will be charged for houses of which the value is estimated at Rs. 100 million or exceeds 5000 sqft


Source :
http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/01/live-text-statement-hon-minister-finance-parliament/74828
http://www.dailymirror.lk/budget/62501
http://indi.ca/2015/01/the-robin-hood-budget-interim-2015/