A new VAT refund counter for tourists was declared open today (July 4, 2025) at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Sunil Handunnetti and Deputy Minister of Finance and Labour Anil Jayanta.
This initiative, implemented under a policy approval submitted to the President on March 14, 2025, by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the Ministry of Industries, allows tourists who have stayed in Sri Lanka for more than 90 days and spent over Rs. 50,000 on VAT to claim a refund.
The service aims to encourage tourists to purchase locally made products and streamline VAT collection. Officials from the Gem and Jewellery Authority, the Department of Inland Revenue, and other relevant departments participated in the event. A media briefing will be held soon to inform businesses and the tourism sector about the process.
