Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera presented the 2018 Budget speech on 9th November 2017.
Some of the highlights are given below:
-VAT refund scheme for foreign passport holders at airports and seaports from May 1, 2018.
-NBT Tax to be imposed on liquor from April 1, 2018.
-0.2% tax on bank transactions to be utilised to repay debt.
-25 cent levy on SMS advertising.
-Govt. will divest holdings in non-strategic interests.
-Restrictions on foreign ownership of shipping and freight forwarding agencies will be lifted
– Loans for SME industries, without guarantors.