Heated debate on CESS on sanitary products in parliament

The taxation of women’s sanitary products became the topic at Sri Lanka's budget debate yesterday with the opposition claiming that the government has increased taxes on sanitary products in order to support the country’s struggling economy.

“Two years ago, Scotland took the bold step of providing free access to sanitary products for students. Today, they are on the verge of enacting free access to all. I wonder how long it would take Sri Lanka to realize the value of such a humane approach toward humanity,” Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said, criticizing what he termed the unfair taxation of women’s sanitary products.

Premadasa, the defeated candidate at the last Presidential election, promised to provide women with free sanitary products drawing ridicule from some sections of the current ruling party.

They gave Premadasa the nickname ‘Pad Man’ which he proudly used until the end of his election campaign.

However, the renewed debate on the matter came to a head when the government introduced a CESS of 15% on women’s sanitary products. Nevertheless, the government said the market prices of sanitary products would remain unchanged.

“We wish to inform you that taxation on sanitary towels has not been increased. Pre-budget, a 30% "Custom Import Duty" (CID) was charged. Post budget, CID is reduced to 15% and a CESS of 15 % is introduced. Therefore taxation remains the same," State Minister Shehan Semasinghesaid.

"Further, we are compelled to retain the CID as a measure to ensure protection of local producers. As such, the government has not taken any measures which results in a price increase of sanitary towels,” Semasinghe said, clearing the air on the matter.

Many young members of the ruling party, including Minister Namal Rajapaksa and State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, echoed Semasinghe’s views on the matter. However, the seemingly progressive views of the "Young Turks" of the ruling party on this issue were marred by a remark made by MP Geetha Kumarasinghe who said national security was more important than sanitary products.

Despite the government's assurance, activists in Sri Lanka continue to demand total removal of taxes on sanitary products as a way of ending “period poverty” — a dire issue faced by low-income women across the country.