Government focusing on revising VAT on books in upcoming Budget, PM says

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the Government is focusing on revising the VAT imposed on books through the upcoming Budget.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while participating in the opening ceremony of the 27th Colombo International Book Fair, organised by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association. The fair was officially inaugurated on 25 September at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) premises in Colombo.

Dr. Amarasuriya also presided over the presentation of scholarships to students under the “Daru Diriya” Scholarship Fund maintained by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association.

She said the President had specifically instructed her to convey that the Government would be able to introduce a significant change to the VAT imposed on books through this year’s Budget. The Prime Minister noted that, as a Government that recognises the value of books, it fully understands the importance of such a change to the people.

She said the Colombo International Book Fair is not merely another exhibition held once a year, but an integral part of the cultural life of the country, eagerly anticipated by hundreds of thousands of people. She noted that, since its inception in 1999, the event has contributed to nurturing the reading culture of Sri Lanka for more than two decades.

The Prime Minister said that reading means understanding another person’s life, society, culture and perspective, and that it greatly contributes to building a society founded on empathy. She also highlighted the importance of nurturing children’s interest in reading through the new education reforms, as well as allocating more time for reading during school hours.

The occasion was attended by diplomats, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Professor Upul Subasinghe, President of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association Mr. Athula Jayakody, along with a large number of writers, publishers and other invitees.