• Considers plight of those who can’t afford 

Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni said that his Ministry believed that providing free or subsidised menstrual hygiene products to those who cannot afford them would be more effective than reducing taxes on such products.

Fielding a question from The Daily Morning, regarding whether the Ministry intended to influence the Finance Ministry to review taxes imposed on menstrual hygiene products, Dr Wijemuni said yesterday (02) that the Government preferred to approach the issue by providing “targeted assistance to vulnerable groups rather than making the products completely tax-free”. He pointed out that taxation on menstrual hygiene products is determined collectively by several institutions, including the Trade Ministry and other relevant authorities. He noted that making a product entirely tax-free is “not always the most justifiable approach and could be difficult for a country such as Sri Lanka to implement.” He said that instead, the Government could assist those who find it difficult to purchase such products by strengthening their economic situation, providing the products free of charge, or making them available at subsidised prices. Dr Wijemuni pointed out that the Health Ministry's view is that simply reducing taxes on menstrual hygiene products may not have a significant impact compared to targeted assistance measures. The matter remains under discussion and further details may be announced in the future, he said.

A senior health spokesperson noted that two of the Ministry’s main tasks is to identify menstrual health as a public health issue and promote access to menstrual hygiene products in schools and communities. There have been continued appeals to reduce the taxes slapped on menstrual hygiene products to make them more affordable.