Business
Why the Government Should Increase Tobacco Taxation in the Forthcoming Budget
A Win-Win Strategy:
by Harini Weerasekera
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many economies struggling to revive economic activity and boost growth. Economic stimulus packages of varying sizes, shapes and forms have been disbursed by governments around the world to keep their economies afloat. What this means is that governments of developing countries in particular, face extremely tough fiscal policy choices; in some cases, compelled to spend money that they do not necessarily have.
Sri Lanka is no exception to this. COVID-19 has pushed what was already a high spend-low revenue economy into further fiscal turmoil. IPS has stressed that getting the country’s fiscal house in order is the need of the hour, in order to effectively respond to the pandemic, on top of dealing with an already mounting debt burden.
When government finances are tight, policy solutions that can be leveraged to boost government revenue without threatening growth and which support additional pandemic-related spending in the coming years, are essential. Increasing tobacco taxation is an excellent example.
IPS Study on Tobacco Taxation
A recent study by IPS projects that government tax revenue can be boosted by LKR 37 billion by 2023, if taxes on cigarettes are streamlined and raised in line with inflation. Although the government assumed a policy stance of cutting taxes across the board when they came into power, excise taxation of sin-goods such as cigarettes is one area where it is still politically feasible to raise taxes in order to boost much needed revenue. For example, back in 2019, the government increased excise taxes on tobacco to offset an overall reduction in VAT rates on goods.
This month’s budget is therefore an opportune moment to increase tobacco taxation, which will simultaneously help raise revenue at a critical time for the country, and generate significant and positive health benefits that would flow from reducing smoking.
Why Cigarette Taxation?
Although tax rates on some types of cigarettes in Sri Lanka have been raised in recent years, the most-sold brand of cigarettes in the country remains affordable according to the World Health Organization (WHO) affordability index. Further, the tax structure for cigarettes is not streamlined, and tax policy changes have been implemented in an ad-hoc manner. What this means is that there is further space to reduce cigarette affordability by using appropriate tax policy. This will ease health costs to the government from tobacco related-illness which can then be redirected towards pandemic related health costs, whilst also securing additional tax revenue in these difficult times.
In order to do this, IPS recommends in our latest study, that the government and related institutions deploy an incremental approach to revising cigarette taxes over the next four years (2020-2023). Sri Lanka currently has a five-tier tax structure for cigarettes based on cigarette length, some of which remain affordable and accessible to the young and poor in particular. Adopting a uniform excise tax system that is periodically adjusted for changes in inflation, in line with the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) protocol, will reduce overall affordability of all types of cigarettes.
Implementing these recommendations will result in Sri Lanka’s government revenue from cigarettes increasing by Rs 37 billion by 2023; cigarette consumption reducing from one billion sticks by 2023; and prevention of 140,000 premature deaths from cigarette consumption in the future.
Additionally, a forthcoming study by IPS finds that the net effect of tobacco control policies on national income is positive, as a result of consumers switching their spending from tobacco products to other goods and services.
A Link between Tobacco Taxation and Illicit Trade?
While industry lobbyists, the world over, are resistant to cigarette tax increases, and argue that increased taxes promote illicit tobacco trade and beedi consumption – the evidence shows otherwise. According to WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub research, there is a negative correlation between illicit trade share and cigarette prices, globally (Figure 1). Instead, it is the existence of informal trade channels, easily crossed borders, weak governance, ineffective customs/tax administration, corruption and complicity of producers/importers, among other reasons, that cause large-scale illicit trade of tobacco. Hence, illicit trade should be controlled through organizational changes in tax administration such as more investigations, more tax and customs officers, and technology, rather than by keeping cigarette taxes/prices low.
Similarly, there is concern that beedi consumption has risen due to tax increases on cigarettes. However, the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) trend surveys over the years have found that there is no pattern of switching from cigarettes to beedi in response to cigarette price increases. However, authorities should consider taxing beedis too; avoiding tax increases on cigarettes, on the other hand, will not aid in reducing consumption of either cigarettes or beedis.
Moreover, controlling the consumption of various tobacco products needs to be tackled using different strategies, as outlined by internationally recognized sources such as the WHO.
Indra Traders recently introduced a special programme titled “Athwela” in collaboration with the Bank of Ceylon (BOC).
The programme was designed with a primary focus on customer convenience, aiming to provide essential support by simplifying the financial challenges often associated with vehicle purchasing and servicing. This initiative is regarded as a further strengthening of the trust and relationships Indra Traders has built over its decades of service excellence.
The partner for this program, the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), is Sri Lanka’s largest state bank and a premier financial institution. It offers an extensive island-wide branch network, exceptional customer service, and some of the most competitive interest rates in the market.
Speaking at the event, Rushanka Silva, Managing Director of Indra Traders, said: “Today is a very special day for us. As Indra Traders, a company engaged in business for over five decades, it is a great honor to enter into the ‘Athwela’ agreement with Sri Lanka’s largest bank. Through this program, we are working to provide various financial and service facilities, including leasing. As a company that imports everything from the smallest to the largest vehicles, we provide customers the opportunity to purchase any vehicle they need through our six yards located across the island. Even if a specific vehicle is not in our current stock, we are prepared to import it according to the customer’s requirement. I invite all customers to join hands with ‘Athwela’.”
Y. A. Jayathilaka, General Manager of Bank of Ceylon, added “At a time when restrictions on vehicle imports have been relaxed, it is a great pleasure for Bank of Ceylon, the strongest bank in the country, to partner with Indra Traders – a company with over 50 years of trusted history. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and convenient service to leasing customers across the island by combining BOC’s extensive branch network with Indra Traders’ expertise.”
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing together with Beijing Capital Airlines last week organized a destination promotion event and announced the launch the Capital Airlines direct flights from Beijing to Colombo.
While congratulating Beijing Capital Airlines for expanding the connectivity between Beijing and Colombo, the Sri Lanka Ambassador Majintha Jayesinghe highlighted the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries and the significance of strengthening connectivity in line with the Joint Statement issued following the meeting in January 2025 between President Xi Jinping and President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, a news release from the embassy said.
The President of the Beijing Capital Airlines Liu Jun expressed appreciation and stated that the new route is an important milestone in expanding the airline’s South Asian network while strengthening the Air Silk Route. He also highlighted that this is the only direct flight connecting Northern China with Sri Lanka and a key Capital-to-Capital air link, it added.
There was no word about the flight frequency and when the service will begin.
Ambassador Jayesinghe reiterated that Sri Lanka is more than a holiday destination and is positioned as an exotic, experienced-rich, year-round travel destination offering warm and pleasant weather. He emphasized that Sri Lanka, as a stand-alone destination, provides a blend of rich history, eight UNESCO heritage sites, diverse landscapes, pristine beaches, dense forests, and scenic mountains, inviting Chinese travellers to explore and enjoy Sri Lanka.
The commencement of the Beijing – Colombo route will contribute to the social and economic development of both countries. The Beijing- Colombo service has filled a longstanding gap in the aviation market and will further promote the economic, trade, cultural and tourism development, while offering more convenient travel options, the news release said.
SLT-MOBITEL Mobile, in collaboration with Fintelex (Pvt) Ltd, has launched ‘Yaya Agro’, an exclusive all-in-one smart agriculture app designed to empower Sri Lankan farmers with the tools they need to grow smarter, safer, and more sustainably.
Yaya Agro represents a new era of digital farming in Sri Lanka combining technology, expert knowledge, and community empowerment to provide farmers the confidence to make smarter decisions, improve productivity, and build a sustainable future.
Developed with support from GIZ and Hatch and validated by leading academic and professional institutions including the University of Colombo, Institute for Agrotechnology and Rural Sciences, and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Yaya Agro combines agricultural expertise, real-time weather updates, first aid support, and AI-powered assistance into a single, easy-to-use platform.
The launch of Yaya Agro positions SLT-MOBITEL as an innovative, inclusive, and collaborative technology leader. Partnering technology and academic institutions, the company extends its role outside the sector into agriculture, empowering farmers with AI-driven tools, multilingual access, and market connectivity. The initiative also strengthens SLT-MOBITEL’s image as a champion of digital empowerment and sustainable development in Sri Lanka.
Functioning as a comprehensive digital companion, Yaya Agro is positioned as a digital farming companion, bringing precision agriculture, real-time support, and market access to the fingertips of every Sri Lankan farmer.
Whether managing a small home garden or a large commercial farm, the app equips farmers with vital insights to improve crop yield, reduce risks, and connect directly with buyers through the integrated online marketplace.
Yaya Agro offers farmers daily crop information with expert tips on management, pest control, and best practices, all validated by the University of Colombo. It provides accurate, location-based weather forecasts to help plan farming activities more effectively. The app also delivers life-saving first aid tutorials and safety information verified by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, ensuring farmers are prepared for emergencies. With the AI chatbot assistant, farmers can access instant, personalized advice around the clock, with smart notifications delivering timely alerts and reminders tailored to crop cycles.
To make learning inclusive and accessible, Yaya Agro is available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, offering interactive educational content such as videos, voice guides, and infographics. The app also integrates an online marketplace, developed in partnership with GIZ and Hatch, enabling farmers to connect directly with buyers and expand their reach.
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