MUMBAI: Sri Lanka government has amended the commercial levy imposed on foreign television content, including teledramas, films and advertisements. The government has also decided to form a national media policy to regulate content aired on local television channels.

As per the new rate card, the tax for 30 minutes or less block of English language imported teledramas and films have been reduced to Rs 10,000 from Rs 75,000. The tax for the programmes of the other languages of 30 minutes will be Rs 75,000. The levy for the imported programmes dubbed into a local language is Rs 90,000 per a 30 minute or less block. The tax reductions have come into effect from 24 July.

The tax amendment was reached in a meeting held between the president of Sri Lanka and the heads of private television channels, heads of the advertising firms, artistes and the officials of the treasury and the ministry of media and information.