Proposal to increase VAT to 18% passed in Parliament

December 11, 2023 at 5:29 PM

The third reading of the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed with amendments in Parliament today.

Accordingly, 100 Parliamentarians voted in favour of the bill, while 55 MPs voted against it.

Earlier this evening, the second reading of the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament with a majority of 57 votes.

During the vote, 98 Parliamentarians had voted in favour of the Bill, while 41 MPs had voted against it.

MP Roshan Ranasinghe who was recently sacked from his ministerial portfolio voted against the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill.

The debate on the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, which was adjourned yesterday due to a lack of quorum, was held this evening.

The government in its Budget for the fiscal year 2024 has proposed to increase VAT to 18% effective from January. (NewsWire)