– Notice regarding National Consumer Price Index – (NCPI)-(Base 2021=100) February, 2023(dated-21.03.2023)-Dept. of Census and Statistics.

• The NCPI (Base 2021=100) for all items for the months of February 2023 is 204.1and it records an increase of 2.3 in index points compared to the January 2023.
• The Overall rate of inflation as measured by NCPI (Base 2021=100) on year- on-year basis is 53.6% in February 2023. Refer attachment for further details.

– Order of imposition of Special Levy on Birds’ eggs under Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007 (dated- 17.03.2023) – Ministry of Finance.

• The Ministry of Finance, vide an order imposes a Special Commodity Levy with respect to the importation of Birds Eggs etc. at the rate of Rs. 1300 per kg and waived off the balance amount after collecting Rs. 200 per kg from the applicable Special Commodity on importation of Frozen Whole Egg Liquid, classified under the HS Code of 0408.99.3. This Order shall be valid for a period of two (02) months commencing from March 1st, 2023. Please refer to the order for more details.

– Notification on the updated Rates of Exchange under Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) (dated- 20.03.2023) – Dept. of Customs.

• The Director General of Customs notified that all duties of Customs as well as other charges, penalties and forfeitures incurred under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), shall be paid, and received at the Rates of Exchange set out in the Schedule with effect from 20th March 2023. The notification relating to the Rates of Exchange published in Gazette Extraordinary, No. 2323/01 of 13th March 2023 is hereby rescinded. Please refer to the notification for more details.

– Notification on which tax is calculated in respect of Value Added on Supply of Financial Services under Value Added Tax Act, No.14 of 2002 (dated -24.01.2023) – Inland Revenue Department.

• The Inland Revenue Department issued an order to specify matters relation to and the manner in which tax is calculated in respect of VAT on financial services with effect from 01.10.2022. Please refer to the notification for more details.

– Notification on the Purchasing Managers’ Indices for both Manufacturing and Services activities contracted in February 2023 (dated- 14.03.2023) – Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

• The Central Bank of Sri Lanka vide a press release notified Purchasing Managers’ Indices for both Manufacturing and Services activities contracted in February 2023. Manufacturing PMI recorded an index value of 42.3 in February, indicating a continued setback in manufacturing activities on a month-on-month basis. Please refer to the press release for more details.

– Notice on Value Added Tax and Value added Tax on Financial services (dated- 15.03.2023) – Inland Revenue Department.

• The Inland Revenue Department issued a notice mandating the payments on Value added Tax Value added Tax on Financial services for the Tax type Code 70 & 75 to be paid on or before March 20, 2023, for the month of February 2023. Please refer to the notice for more details.

– Notice to Taxpayers – AIT, WHT, APIT (dated- 13.03.2023) – Inland Revenue Department.

• The Inland Revenue Department issued a notice mandating the payments for the following tax including Advance Income Tax/ Withholding Tax on Interest, Advance Income Tax/Withholding Tax on Fees and others and Advance Personal Income Tax to be paid on or before March 15, 2023, for the month of February 2023. Please refer to the notice for more details.

– Fuel QR quota to be topped every Tuesdays-Dailymirror.lk.

– Cases against over 24,000 employers for failing to provide employee benefits-Colombo Page.

– Various notifications under Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007(dated- 07.03.2023& 03.03.2023) – Ministry of Finance.

• The Ministry of Finance, vide an order imposes a Special Commodity Levy with respect to the importation of dates at the rate of Rs. 200 per kg and waived off the balance amount after collecting Rs. 1 per kg from the applicable Special Commodity on the importation of dates classified under the HS Code of 0804.10.10 and 0804.10.12. This order is valid from 8th March 2023. Please refer to the order for more details.
• The Ministry of Finance, vide an order imposes a Special Commodity Levy with respect to the importation of dates at the rate of Rs. 50 per kg classified under the HS Code of 0701.90. This order is valid for a period of 6 months commencing from 8th March 2023. Please refer to the order for more details.
• The Ministry of Finance, vide an order imposes a Special Commodity Levy with respect to the Black gram and Seeds classified under the HS heading of 07.13 and 10.08. This order is valid for a period of 1 year commencing from 4th March 2023. Please refer to the order for more details.

– Notification on the Revocation of the Operating Instructions on “Incentive Scheme on Inward Worker Remittances” and “Repatriation of Export Proceeds into Sri Lanka” (dated- 03.03.2023)- Central bank of Sri Lanka.

• The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, vide a notification revoked the Revocation of the Operating Instructions on “Incentive Scheme on Inward Worker Remittances” and “Repatriation of Export Proceeds into Sri Lanka” to all licensed banks and this revocation is with effect from 7th March 2023. Please refer to the notification for more details.

– Notification on the revocation of the Operating Instructions on Managing Intraday Volatility of the Exchange Rate (dated- 03.03.2023) – Central bank of Sri Lanka.

• The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, vide a notification revoked the Operating Instructions on Managing Intraday Volatility of the Exchange Rate with effect from 7th March 2023. Please refer to the notification for more details.

– Notification on the rescinding of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators (Structure of Charges) Regulation,2017 (dated- 02.03.2023)- Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, vide a notification rescinded the Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators (Structure of Charges) Regulation,2017 published in Extraordinary gazette No.2041/10 dated 17.10.2017 and all the amendments made to them published in Extraordinary gazette No.2302/24 dated 20.10.2022. Please refer to the notification for more details

– Notification on the updated Rates of Exchange under Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) (dated- 06.03.2023) – Dept. of Customs.

• The Director General of Customs notified that all duties of Customs as well as other charges, penalties and forfeitures incurred under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), shall be paid, and received at the Rates of Exchange set out in the Schedule with effect from 06th March 2023. The notification relating to the Rates of Exchange published in Gazette Extraordinary, No. 2321/01 of 27th February 2023 is hereby rescinded. Please refer to the notification for more details.

– Notification regarding Special Allowance payable to workers in the Cocoa, Cardamom and Pepper Growing and Manufacturing Trade (dated-27.02.2023)-Department of Labour.