Government Considering Changes to VAT on Books in Upcoming Budget – Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is focusing on making revisions to the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on books in the upcoming budget.

She made these remarks while addressing the official opening ceremony of the 27th Colombo International Book Fair at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), organized by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association today (25). During the event, the Prime Minister also handed over financial assistance to students under the “Daru Diriya” scholarship fund managed by the association.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya noted that the President had specifically asked her to announce that the upcoming budget will likely allow for a significant modification to the VAT on books. She emphasized that as a government that understands the value of books, it fully recognizes how important such a change is to the public.

Highlighting the cultural significance of the event, the Prime Minister remarked that the Colombo International Book Fair is not merely an annual exhibition, but a vital part of the cultural life of millions of people in Sri Lanka. Since its inception in 1999, the event has actively nurtured the country’s reading culture for over two decades.

She added that reading fosters empathy by enabling individuals to understand different lives, societies, cultures, and perspectives. Furthermore, she pointed out the importance of cultivating reading habits among children through new educational reforms and allocating more time for reading within school schedules.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by diplomats, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Senior Professor Upul Subasinghe, President of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association Athula Jayakody, along with numerous authors, publishers, and distinguished guests.

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