Carbon tax imposed from this year, to be paid in 2020

The carbon tax will be in effect from January 1, Motor Traffic Commissioner General Jagath Chandrasiri said.

He said the newly imposed Carbon Tax will help contribute towards the control of carbon dioxide emissions, a harmful component causing air pollution and global warming.

Addressing the media at the RMV premises yesterday, he said this is one of the proposals introduced in the Budget Speech 2018 made by Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera under the blue green economy, aimed at reducing environmental risks and ecological imbalances.

The proposed tax will be based on the engine capacity of motor vehicles, with the rate depending on age and the fuel type of the vehicle. The tax is not applicable for electric vehicles.

Accordingly, the hybrid class less than five years old will be taxed at .25 cents per cm3 while vehicles running on petrol and diesel will be taxed at .50 cents per cm3. Passenger buses will be taxed on Rs.1000. This tax will be levied at the point of obtaining the revenue licence.”There is no method yet to levy the carbon tax.Those who renew their revenue will have to pay the tax for 2019 and 2020 without a penalty,”Chandrasiri said.