Media Coverage on Tax Free Periods: Call for the Removal of Taxes on Menstrual Products

Putting the period on ‘taxing’ the period

The imposition of taxes on menstrual hygiene products, needed by women and girls due to a biological process naturally occurring in their body, has been subjected to fair criticism from many parties. While there have been great demands for the Government to remove the taxes imposed on menstrual products and the raw materials needed to manufacture such, such items are currently subjected to a tax rate of 51.07%, and it continues to restrict the access of those menstruating to sanitary products.
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Half number of girls, women do not include sanitary napkins in household expenditures

Due to the affordability of sanitary napkins half the number of girls and women in Sri Lanka do not include sanitary napkins in their household expenditures, the Advocata Institute said. They said the affordability of sanitary napkins and its significant impact on the welfare of girls and women in Sri Lanka has become more pronounced in recent years. This is particularly evident due to the decline in their purchasing powers stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. .

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Advocata Policy Brief : Tax Free Periods: Call for the Removal of Taxes on Menstrual Products

The affordability of sanitary napkins and its significant impact on the welfare of girls and women in Sri Lanka has become more pronounced in recent years. This is particularly evident due to the decline in purchasing power stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. Approximately 4 million Sri Lankans have descended into poverty since 2019, making the total number of Sri Lankans living in poverty approximately 7 million. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the ramifications of the lack of affordability of sanitary napkins which is worsened by the imposition of high taxes on sanitary napkins.

Here is the link to Advocata’s Policy Brief on Tax Free Periods: Call for the Removal of Taxes on Menstrual Products

Media Coverage on A Deep Dive into the Market Competitiveness of Ceylon Tea

Advocata Institute unveils insights on enhancing market competitiveness of Ceylon tea

Advocata Institute Research Consultant Sudaraka Ariyarathna shed light on the discrepancy between recommended replanting rate and the actual rate, mentioning that “while the recommended replanting rate stands at 2.5%, our research indicates a significantly lower actual rate,” highlighting the impact on Sri Lanka’s tea production yields compared to other black tea producing nations. This was the opening to “A deep dive into the market competitiveness of Ceylon tea” organised by Advocata Institute which was on 29 February.
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Importance of strengthening estate workers’ economy stressed

The challenges encountered by the upcountry Tamil community is beyond mere daily wages, said Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman.

He was speaking at a discussion on “A Deep Dive into the market competitiveness of Ceylon Tea” organised by Advocata Institute at the BMICH on Thursday.

He stressed the importance of enhancing their quality of life by addressing various facets such as housing, land, education, health, and infrastructure.

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ADVOCATA INSTITUTE

Unveils Insights on Enhancing Market Competitiveness of Ceylon Tea

The Ceylon tea industry faces significant challenges which threaten its competitiveness and sustainability in the global market. High labour costs, labour shortages, and inefficiencies in land management are hindering productivity and profitability, while issues pertaining to quality control and the lack of a premiumisation strategy posse further obstacles to unlocking the true potential of Ceylon tea.

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Optimism over securing EU protection for Ceylon Tea

Sri Lanka expressed optimism about securing European Union(EU) protection for Ceylon tea within the next 12-18 months.

Chairman of the Tea Board, Niraj De Mel, emphasised the need to prioritise quality over volume, advocating for a return to basics to improve prices.

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The Cato Podcast mentions Advocata in their podcast on 'The Outside Dilemma' with Matt Warner

The Cato Podcast hosted by Caleb Brown mentioned Advocata in a their recent podcast on Development Economics and ‘The Outsider’s Dilemma’ with Matt Warner, President of the Atlas Network.

Media mention on Reuters of Advocata on taxes on sanitary napkins

Thomson-Reuters Foundation mentioned Advocata in a recent article on period poverty and sanitary napkin affordability, published on April 04, 2019.

An excerpt from the article:

“Should a country tax women on something they have no control over? As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, in Sri Lanka women’s health as well as education is in jeopardy due to high taxes on women’s sanitary products, say activists.

“Period poverty has hit global headlines in recent years, with statistics showing that even in a wealthy Western country like Britain, one in 10 girls have been unable to afford sanitary products. …In Sri Lanka, the problem is particularly acute because sanitary products are so heavily taxed - until last September, the levy on imported pads was more than 100 percent. It has since been reduced to about 63 percent and Sri Lanka’s finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation he was looking into how taxes on sanitary products could be reduced further.

But Anuki Premachandra, head of research communication at The Advocata Institute, an independent policy think tank, said the issue still wasn’t being given the importance it deserved. “People are enraged about the cost of carrots, but when it comes to taxes on sanitary napkins, they dismiss it as a women’s issue,” she said.”

Media mention of Advocata on taxes on sanitary napkins for IWD 2019

Sunday Observer mentioned Advocata in a recent article on sanitary napkin taxation for International Women’s Day, 2019.

An excerpt from the article:

“Should a country tax women on something they have no control over? As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, in Sri Lanka women’s health as well as education is in jeopardy due to high taxes on women’s sanitary products, say activists.

“In a country with 4.2 million menstruating women and a population that is 52 per cent women, you’ would think wewould know better than to tax a woman on something that is beyond her control; but we do not’’ said Anuki Premachandra of the Advocata Institute. Anuki who serves as the Manager-Research Communication at Advocata had been canvassing on the sanitary pad problem during the past couple of months.

“Import taxes on sanitary napkins in Sri Lanka are as high as 62 per cent and what our policy makers fail to realise is that this is a tax on a woman’s biological process that she has no control over. Are we still a society that fails to provide a woman access to a basic necessity? Is it not time we said times up Sri Lanka?” said Anuki.”

Media mention of Advocata regarding taxes on sanitary napkins

The Morning mentioned Advocata in a recent article on sanitary napkin taxation.

An excerpt from the article:

“The Advocata Institute, which originally published the article, is an independent policy think tank based in Colombo. We spoke with the institute’s Manager Research Communications Anuki Premachandra with regards to the data revealed by them.

A comprehensive understanding of the nature of our current situation can be obtained if you look at the following price comparisons: The average price of a packet of 10 pads in Sri Lanka is Rs. 130. Imported pads are priced between Rs. 200-260, and locally-produced pads are also around Rs. 100-130. A cost of a single pad in Sri Lanka is 24% more than in US and 26% more than the retail price of a sanitary napkin in India.

Protectionist taxes ensure security for local producers while also allowing a greater selection of options for the consumer; this has inadvertently resulted in local producers enjoying the comfort of a large profit margin per packet as prices in the market are high in itself, owing to taxes.”

Anuki Premachandra on sanitary napkin taxes and its effect on cost of living in Sri Lanka

Advocata Research Communications Manager, Anuki Premachandra joined Biz 1st In Focus to shed light on the exorbitant taxes on sanitary napkins and its effects on the cost of living, education and health.