Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman expressed concern in Parliament on Tuesday over the government’s recent decision to impose a 15% tax on professionals in the IT industry and freelancers working for foreign entities.
Rahman argued that the new tax unfairly targets individuals who bring foreign exchange into the country by providing services to international clients.
The proposed tax will apply specifically to those in the Platform IT industry, including web designers, web developers, video editors, and other freelancers working remotely for overseas companies.
The MP highlighted that this tax could harm a growing sector that plays a crucial role in supporting Sri Lanka’s economy by earning foreign currency.
Rahman questioned the government’s rationale for taxing the IT sector while neglecting to impose taxes on online casinos.
He also noted that opposition MP Harsha de Silva had previously proposed a taxation system for online gambling to the Committee on Public Finances, yet no action had been taken by the government.
Rahman called on the authorities to address the lack of taxation in the casino industry, which he suggested could generate significant revenue.
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