As a surge in online transaction volume is expected with the rise in Covid-19 cases and casualties in the country, Minister Development Co-ordination and Monitoring, and State Minister Digital Technology and Enterprise Development Namal Rajapaksa assured that no tax will be imposed on online platforms.

Dismissing rumours that a tax will be slapped on online transactions, Rajakapsa affirmed the government will not be taxing online platforms, e-commerce platforms, or digital businesses anytime soon.

According to the Minister, relief will be offered for online businesses in the upcoming budget.

"Minister Basil Rajapaksa has assured me that he will make way for the rise of more such platforms," he said in a statement over the weekend.

Rajapaksa stressed that the government is "reiterating" its position that it will make way for e-commerce platforms and digitalization.

"In recent discussions with Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa, I discussed the tremendous need for more businesses to go digital and to create more online platforms, especially since globally all countries are now adjusting to the post COVID world" he added.