Speaker certifies three Bills
19-Dec-2025.
The Speaker informed Parliament that he has certified three Bills: the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill, the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill, and the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Bill.
This was announced by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne during the Speaker’s announcement following the convening of Parliament at 9.30 a.m. on Dec 18 under his chairmanship.
The Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill primarily aims to amend the Social Security Contribution Levy Act No. 25 of 2022. This Bill was presented to Parliament on Oct 9 and was passed on Dec 5.
Further, through the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill passed on Dec 5, the Second Schedule is amended. Accordingly, the objectives of the amendment are: limiting the total levy of ten percent to apply only to the period from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2025; increasing the total levy collected from persons engaged in the business of bookmakers or gaming to eighteen percent with effect from 1 October 2025; and increasing the casino entry levy charged from Sri Lankan citizens to one hundred United States dollars.
Meanwhile, the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Bill, which was presented to Parliament on Nov 14 and passed on Dec 5, seeks to amend the Strategic Development Projects Act No. 14 of 2008. The amendments include: introducing a new procedure for identifying projects by reducing the maximum exemption period from 25 years to 10 years; requiring the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, upon identifying a proposed project as a strategic development project, to refer such proposal to the Minister of Finance for a pre-event cost–benefit analysis; carrying out such pre-event cost–benefit analysis; imposing administrative penalties to restrict or withdraw any or all exemptions, concessions, or tax holidays granted under the Act, or to recover losses incurred, in the event of non-compliance; and ensuring transparency by requiring the Ministry of Finance to publish an annual report on tax expenditures.
Accordingly, the said three Bills come into operation respectively as the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 2025, the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2025, and the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2025.
