WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

SRI LANKA
Research
Circulation is measured by: The Lanka Market Research Bureau
(LMRB)
Methodology: Sampling
Taxes
VAT on:
sales 20% advertising 20%
newsprint 0* plant 10%
*All newsprint duties and tariffs have been removed, to great
relief of the industry.
There is no special rate of tax on profits for newspapers.
Subsidies
Are there subsidies for purchasing newsprint No
Are loans granted at low interest rates for re-equipping or improving
existing equipment Normal bank loans can be made for
equipment at rates between 14% and 22%.
Discounts
on: post 0 rail 0 telephone 0 telegraph 0 telex 0
Ownership
Does any law exist governing publishing-house ownership, or the
registration of shares in newspaper-publishing companies Yes, the
Registration Law.
Is there any law prohibiting or restricting foreign companies or
individuals from owning shares, and in particular, the majority of
shares, of domestic daily newspapers No
Is there any law prohibiting daily newspaper or periodical publishers
from operating radio or television stations in the same locality No
So as to guarantee disclosure and transparency in the capital structure
and to avert silent partnerships, is there a law or rule making it possible
to determine who actually owns a publishing company All public
companies are required to disclose their ownership; private
companies are not. Publishing companies are subject to no
special regulation.
Is there an antitrust law limiting concentration in the daily press
No
Is further regulation of media concentration expected No. The
government is actually looking at media deregulation.
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WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - WORLD PRESS TRENDS 2003