Scotland has become the first country in the world to make period products freely available to all who need them after final approval was given to a landmark piece of legislation in Parliament on Tuesday.

The measures are intended to end “period poverty” — or the circumstances, and in some cases, the prohibitive expense that has left many without access to sanitary products when they need them.

The measure makes tampons and sanitary pads available at designated public places such as community centres, youth clubs and pharmacies, at an estimated annual cost to taxpayers of 24 million pounds ($32 million U.S.).

Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, Female MPs argue over a proposed tax on sanitary napkins, they have strongly opposed the 15% tax on sanitary pads proposed by the Sri Lankan Government in its budget for 2021. Calling it the “Menses tax”, former SJB MP Diana Gamage and Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Rohini Kavirathne raised their objections in this regard in Parliament today. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Geetha Kumarasinghe joined the debate and stated that the only important thing for women and school children in the country is national security.

However, according to state Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, There’s No change in duty or no increase in price.

Import tax on sanitary products was at 30% Custom Duty n 0% CESS. The Custom duty has been adjusted to 5,10,15% slabs as per new tax policy. With the new adjustments taxes for sanitary products will be 15% Custom Duty and 15% CESS. There’s NO CHNAGE IN DUTY, NO INCREASE in PRICE.

— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) November 24, 2020

Usually, this change may affect the total taxes on Sanitary products slightly as Advacosy Insitute pointed out according to the way the taxes were calculated.

Here’s the low-down on the increased tariffs on Sanitary Napkins:

Has the Govt increased taxes on Sanitary Napkins? Yes, marginally - from 52% to 53.6%. #Budget2021 introduced a new CESS of 15% but reduced the Gen. Duty from 30% to 15%. A net +1.6% increase. pic.twitter.com/yk95NQOVL6

— Advocata Institute (@advocatalk) November 25, 2020

But with the Budget 2020 formula of calculation of CESS also changed, therefore. taxes on sanitary products will stay the same.

And today minister Bandula Gunawardena pointed out more than 90% of Sanitary Products in Sri Lanka is made by local manufacturers, therefore, there will be no change in the sanitary product prices anyway.