A Tsunami of Tax Revenue

Julian Sanchez | June 17, 2005

When Oxfam began sending in relief vehicles to Sri Lanka to help with post-tsunami reconstruction (none were manufactured locally), the government understandably waived import duties... for the first four months. But now:

Britain's Daily Telegraph said Sri Lankan customs had charged $5,000 a day while the vehicles were processed.

Oxfam was given the choice of handing over the vehicles to the government, re-exporting them or paying the 300% import tax.