Mobile, data tariffs up by 20% from today

Amid rising operational costs, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)has granted a 20 percent tariff increase on mobile, fixed telephone, broadband plans and value-added services including both prepaid and postpaid customers with effect from today.

“We wish to inform our valued customers that, due to the continued escalation of operational costs resulting from the devaluation of the Sri Lankan rupee, tariff applicable on our services will be increased effective 05 September 2022,” telco operators announced during the weekend. 
The TRCSL also granted approval for 25 percent upward tariff increase on all pay television services.

Accordingly, all telco operators including Dialog, SLT-Mobitel, Hutch and Airtel have announced revised rates.
Marking the second tax increase for the year, the President Ranil Wickremesinghe last week in his interim budget announced that Value Added Tax (VAT) would be increased to 15 percent from12 percent with effect from September 1.

Telco operators noted that the VAT increase would also come into effect on all telecommunications and Pay TV services from today.
Following the VAT increase, overall tax rate on voice, SMS, VAS services and international messaging is set to climb 34.95 percent from current 31.43 percent while overall tax rate on data and IDD calling would rise to 17.35 percent from existing 14.29 percent.

In June, the government increased VAT from 08 to 12 percent and the Telecommunication Levy from 11.25 percent to 15 percent, resulting in an 8 percent increase in telephone bills while data charges rose by 4 percent.