{
  "id": 19050877,
  "title": "Government makes charity difficult in Sri Lanka – Pethiyagoda",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/government-makes-charity-difficult-in-sri-lanka-pethiyagoda",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T23:45:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/government-makes-charity-difficult-in-sri-lanka-pethiyagoda/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lanka's tax system discourages charitable giving and makes it difficult for businesses and individuals to support social causes, according to biodiversity scientist Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda. Speaking at a discussion on November 5, he advocated for reforms to encourage philanthropy and questioned the restrictions placed on tax deductions for corporate charitable contributions. Dilmah Chairman, Dr. Dilhan C. Fernando, called on businesses to prioritize the creation of social and environmental value over financial returns. Economist Dr. Nishan de Mel warned that the degradation of nature poses a threat to economic activity, citing that around 55% of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature.",
  "summary": "Dilhan Fernando says business must create social and natural value before economic returns; Dr. Nishan de Mel warns that 55% of global GDP depends on nature By Ifham Nizam Sri Lanka’s tax system discourages charitable giving and makes it unnecessarily difficult for businesses and individuals to support social causes, biodiversity scientist Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda said, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}