The Mangala budget: ‘Go-Kart’ taxes out: Tax breaks for maternity leave; 4 Billion for toilets

COLOMBO (News 1^st): In a budget proposal that raised a few eyebrows, taxes on Go-Karts were proposed to be relaxed citing the potential for developing the sport in Sri Lanka. Analysts immediately pounced on the relevance of such a proposal considering Sri Lanka’s ailing economy and immediate steps needed to be taken to boost revenues. The budget also saw Rs. 4 Billion being allocated to construct toilets, tax concessions for companies that grant 3-months maternity leave and a loan scheme dubbed ‘Home Sweet Home’, for newly-weds. A colossal Rs. 40 Billion was set aside to increase government salaries from June 1^st by Rs. 2,500-a-head. Rs. 10 Billion was allocated for the Samurdhi fund, with 600,000 new beneficiaries. This in itself is interesting, considering the fund that has been operating for decades, is meant to take people out of poverty and instead more than half a million will be added to it with this budget. The budget brought the usual bad news for smokers as well; cigarettes will go up in price by Rs. 5 by the 1^st of June. Gambling took a hit as well, with licenses now costing Rs. 400 Million and entrance fees up by $50.