An external fact checker has confirmed that what has happened was an extension of existing taxes. The new Finance Minister has extended the validity period of a few existing taxes without increasing the tax amounts, as those gazettes were nearing the expiry date. However, mainstream media had reported it as new taxes, giving rise to social media posts claiming the same. Read the external fact check (Sinhala) here: https://srilanka.factcrescendo.com/2021/08/15/extension-of-gazette-notification-misinterpreted-claiming-new-taxes-were-imposed-by-basil-rajapaksa/.