Financial Times -Quality foreign movies would be exempt from tax

Quality foreign movies would be exempt from tax

The controversial levy on foreign films, tele-dramas and commercials on local television has created a storm but the authorities are now saying foreign films suitable to local audiences would be exempt from this tax.

Ashoka Serasinghe, Chairman, National Film Corporation and a member of the Financial Act No 11 of 2006’s decision-making committee told The Sunday Times FT that if the quality is good enough and the content does not adversely affect Sri Lankan culture, “there is no reason why that programme cannot be shown (without a tax).”

The final decision is up to each respective decision-making panel that will decide the matter concerning whatever is put before them. “If a company puts forward a foreign tele-drama or film with valid reasoning as to why it should be tax-exempt, then that drama or film has a very good chance of being allowed,” Serasinghe said.

“The main reason for this is to remove badly made or low-class dramas and movies that are aired because they are cheap to buy compared to locally-produced productions,” he said.

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