Date: 2026-07-16Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
PROTOCOL AMENDING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
**Executive Summary**
This notification by the Ministry of Finance announces a Protocol, signed on December 16, 2024, to amend the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Sri Lanka. The Protocol entered into force on June 19, 2026, with the primary objective of eliminating double taxation while preventing tax evasion and treaty shopping. Its provisions will apply to income derived in fiscal years beginning on or after April 1st following the calendar year in which the Protocol entered into force.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Amended Objectives and Preamble**
* **Economic Cooperation:** The Preamble is revised to emphasize the promotion of economic cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
* **Prevention of Tax Evasion:** A specific intent is added to eliminate double taxation without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance.
* **Treaty Shopping:** The document explicitly targets "treaty-shopping arrangements" that aim to obtain reliefs for the indirect benefit of residents of third states.
**Entitlement to Benefits (Principal Purpose Test)**
* **Denial of Benefits:** Tax benefits under the agreement will not be granted if it is reasonable to conclude that obtaining the benefit was one of the principal purposes of an arrangement or transaction.
* **Compliance Exception:** Benefits may still be granted if it is established that such relief is in accordance with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty provisions.
**Implementation and Timelines**
* **Entry into Force:** The Protocol became effective on June 19, 2026, following the completion of legal procedures in both contracting states.
* **Application in India:** Provisions apply to income derived in any fiscal year beginning on or after April 1st of the calendar year following the entry into force.
* **Application in Sri Lanka:** Provisions apply to income derived in any taxable year beginning on or after April 1st of the calendar year following the entry into force.
* **Duration:** The Protocol remains in effect as long as the original 2013 Agreement remains in force.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Government of India**
**Impact**
The Government is empowered under section 159(1) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, to implement these amendments within the Union of India.
**Action Required**
The Ministry of Finance must oversee the notification's enforcement and ensure the revised anti-evasion standards are integrated into tax administration.
**Taxpayers / Residents of India and Sri Lanka**
**Impact**
Taxpayers engaging in cross-border transactions between the two nations are now subject to the "Principal Purpose Test" (PPT). Arrangements designed primarily for tax advantage may lose their eligibility for DTAA benefits.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders must review their transactions and arrangements to ensure they are consistent with the object and purpose of the treaty and are not structured solely for tax avoidance.
**Tax Authorities**
**Impact**
Authorities gain a stronger legal framework to challenge "treaty shopping" and transactions that lack genuine economic substance.
**Action Required**
Assessors must apply the new PPT criteria when evaluating claims for tax relief or exemptions under the India-Sri Lanka DTAA.
Key Entities Referenced
Protocol amending the Agreement between the Republic of India and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: A bilateral agreement signed to amend existing tax treaties to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion while promoting economic cooperation.
Income-tax Act, 2025: The governing legislation under which the Central Government exercised powers (specifically Section 159) to notify the implementation of the protocol.
Department of Revenue: The primary department within the Ministry of Finance responsible for issuing this notification and regulating income tax provisions.
India-Sri Lanka Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (2013): The original bilateral policy document, signed on January 22, 2013, which is being modified by the current protocol.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-16072026-274570
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D6H0x7x2x0 26-274570
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 3762] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतिार, िुलाई 16, 2026/आषाढ 25, 1948
No. 3762] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026/ASHADHA 25, 1948
जित्त मत्रं ालय
(रािस्ट्ि जिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 16 िुलाई, 2026
(आयकर)
का.आ. 3926(अ).— िबदक, आय पर करों के संबंध म ेंिोहरे कराधान स ेबचन ेऔर रािकोषीय अपिंचन
की रोकथाम के जलए भारत गणराज्य और श्रीलंका लोकतांजत्रक समाििािी गणराज्य की सरकार के बीच करार म ें संिोधन
करने िाल े एक प्रोटोकॉल पर दिनांक 16 दिसंबर, 2024 को नई दिल्ली म ें हस्ट्ताक्षर दकए गए, िैसा दक इस अजधसूचना के
अनुबंध(एतजममन ्पश्चात प्रोटोकॉल के रूप म ेंसंिर्भित) म ें ििािया गया ह।ै
और िबदक, उक्त प्रोटोकाल के अनुच्छेि 3 के पैराग्राफ 2 म ें दिए गए प्रािधान के अनुसार यह उक्त संजििाकारी
राज्यों द्वारा उनके अपन-े अपने कानूनों की िजृ ि स े यथा आिमयक प्रदियाओं को परू ा दकए िाने की अजधसूचनाओं के िारी
होने की तारीख स े30 िें दिन स े लाग ू होगा;
5456 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
और िबदक, उक्त प्रोटोकॉल 19 िून, 2026 को लाग ू हुआ, क्योंदक यह उक्त प्रोटोकॉल के अनच्ु छेि 3 के परै ाग्राफ 2
के अनुसार, उक्त प्रोटोकॉल के लागू होने के जलए आिमयक प्रदियाओं को पूरा करन ेकी अजधसूचनाओं के िारी होने की तारीख
से बाि का जनधािररत दििस था।
और िबदक, उक्त प्रोटोकाल के अनुच्छेि 3 के पैराग्राफ 3 म ेंयह प्रािधान ह ैदक उक्त प्रोटोकाल के प्रािधान भारत म ें
उस कैलण्े डर िषि, जिसम ें इस करार को लाग ू दकया गया हो, के तत्काल बाि आन े िाल े अप्रलै के पहल े दिन या उसके बाि
प्रारम्भ होने िाल े दकसी रािकोषीय िषि म ें उद्भूत आय के संबंध म ेंलाग ू होंगे।
अब, आयकर अजधजनयम, 2025 (2025 का 30) की धारा 159 की उप-धारा (1) के तहत प्रित्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग
करत े हुए, केंद्र सरकार, एतद्दिारा, अजधसूजचत करती ह ैदक उक्त प्रोटोकॉल के सभी प्रािधान, िैसा दक यहा ं संलग्न ह,ै भारत
संघ म ें प्रभािी होंगे।
आय पर करों के सबं धं म ेंिोहरे कराधान के पररहार और रािकोषीय अपिचं न को रोकन ेके जलए
भारत गणराज्य की सरकार
और
श्री लकं ा लोकताजं त्रक समाििािी गणराज्य की सरकार
के बीच करार म ेंसिं ोधन प्रोटोकॉल
भारत गणराज्य की सरकार और श्री लंका लोकतांजत्रक समाििािी गणराज्य की सरकार,
दिनांक 22 िनिरी, 2013 को भारत म ें हस्ट्ताक्षररत, आय पर करों के संबंध म ें िोहरे कराधान के पररहार और रािकोषीय
अपिंचन को रोकने के जलए भारत गणराज्य की सरकार और श्री लंका लोकतांजत्रक समाििािी गणराज्य की सरकार के बीच
करार (जिस े इसके बाि कहा गया ह ै ’’करार‘‘) म ें संिोधन करने के जलए प्रोटोकॉल का समापन करने की इच्छा स,े
इस प्रकार सहमत हुई ह:ैं
अनच्ु छेि 1
इस करार की प्रस्ट्तािना को जनम्नजलजखत स ेप्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा:
"भारत गणराज्य की सरकार और श्री लंका लोकतांजत्रक समाििािी गणराज्य की सरकार, आय पर करों के संबंध
म ेंिोहरे कराधान के पररहार और रािकोषीय अपिंचन को रोकने के जलए तथा िोनों िेिों के बीच आर्थिक सहयोग
को बढ़ािा िेने की िजृ ि से एक करार जनष्पन्न करने की इच्छा स े :
कर अपिंचन अथिा पररहार के द्वारा गरै -कराधान अथिा कम कराधान हते ु अिसर उत्पन्न दकए जबना इस करार म ें
िाजमल करों के सम्बंध म ेंिोहरे कराधान को समाप्त करन ेके इराि ेस े(तीसरे राज्यों के जनिाजसयों को अप्रत्यक्ष लाभ
हते ु इस करार म ेंप्रित्त छूटों को प्राप्त करन े के उद्दमे य स ेसंजध-खरीिारी की व्यिस्ट्था के माध्यम सजहत);
इस प्रकार सहमत हुई ह:ैं”[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
अनच्ु छेि 2
करार के अनच्ु छेि 28 के मौिूिा पैराग्राफ 6 को हटाया िाएगा और जनम्नजलजखत स े प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा:
“6. इस करार के अन्य उपबंधों के बाििूि, इस करार के अतं गति आय के दकसी मि के संबंध म ेंकोई लाभ नहीं
दिया िाएगा यदि सभी संगत तथ्यों तथा पररजस्ट्थजतयों को ध्यान म ेंरखते हुए यह मानना समुजचत हो दक इस प्रकार
का लाभ हाजसल करना ही दकसी समझौते अथिा संव्यिहार के मुख्य उद्देमयों म ें स े एक उद्देमय ही था जिसके
पररणामस्ट्िरूप प्रत्यक्षतः अथिा अप्रत्यक्षतः िह लाभ प्राप्त हुआ ह,ै िब तक दक यह जसद्ध नहीं होता हो दक इन
पररजस्ट्थजतयों म ेंउस लाभ का प्रिान दकया िाना इस करार के संगत उपबंधों के लक्ष्य तथा उद्दमे यों के अनुसार होगा।"
अनच्ु छेि 3
1. संजििाकारी राज्य इस प्रोटोकॉल को लागू करने के जलए अपने-अपने कानूनों के अंतगित अपेजक्षत प्रदियाओं को पूरा
करने के जलए रािनजयक माध्यमों से जलजखत रूप म ें एक-िसू रे को अजधसूजचत करेंगे।
2. यह प्रोटोकॉल इस अनुच्छेि के पैराग्राफ 1 म ें उजल्लजखत अजधसूचनाओं म ें स े बाि िाली अजधसूचना की तारीख के
तीसिें दिन लागू होगा।
3. इस प्रोटोकॉल के लागू होने के बाि इसके प्रािधानों का जनम्नजलजखत प्रभाि होगा:
(क) भारत म:ें
जिस कैलेन्डर िषि म ें यह करार लागू होता ह ै उसके अनुिती कैलेन्डर िषि के अप्रैल माह की पहली तारीख को अथिा इसके
बाि आरम्भ होने िाले दकसी जित्तीय िषि के जलए प्राप्त की गई आय के संबंध म;ें और
(ख) श्री लंका म:ें
जिस कराधेय िषि म ें यह करार लागू होता ह ै उसके अनुिती कैलेन्डर िषि के अप्रैल माह की पहली तारीख को अथिा इसके
बाि आरम्भ होने िाले दकसी कर योग्य िषि म ें प्राप्त की गई आय के संबंध में।
4. यह प्रोटोकॉल तक प्रभािी रहगे ा िब तक करार के लागू रहता ह ै।
जिसके साक्ष्य म ें अपनी संबंजधत सरकारों द्वारा इसके जलए जिजधित रूप स े प्राजधकृत होकर, अधोहस्ट्ताक्षरी ने इस प्रोटोकॉल
पर हस्ट्ताक्षर दकए।
नई दिल्ली म ें िषि 2024 के दिसम्बर माह के 16िें दिन जहन्िी, ससंहल और अग्रं ेिी म ें िो मलू प्रजतयों म ें जनष्पादित दकया
गया, सभी पाठ समान रूप स ेप्रामाजणक। पाठों म ें जभन्नता की जस्ट्थजत म,ें अग्रं ेिी पाठ प्रभािी माना िाएगा।
भारत गणराज्य की सरकार के जलए श्री लकं ा लोकताजं त्रक समाििािी गणराज्य की सरकार के जलए
[स.ं 88 /2026/फा.स ं. 503/8/2005-एफटीडी-II]
भास्ट्कर गोस्ट्िामी, संयुक् त सजचि4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th July, 2026
(Income-Tax)
S.O. 3926(E).— Whereas, a Protocol amending the Agreement between the Republic of India and the
Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention
of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, was signed at New Delhi on the 16th day of December, 2024, as set
out in the Annexure to this notification (hereinafter referred to as the said Protocol);
And whereas, paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the said Protocol provides that it shall enter into force on the thirtieth
day after the date of the later of the notifications by the said contracting states of the completion of the procedures
required by their respective laws;
And whereas, the date of entry into force of the said Protocol is the 19th day of June, 2026, being the date of
the later of the notifications of the completion of the procedures required for giving effect to the said Protocol in
accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the said Protocol;
And whereas, paragraph 3 of Article 3 of the said Protocol, inter alia, provides that the provisions of the said
protocol shall have effect in India in respect of income derived in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of
April next following the calendar year on which the Agreement enters into force;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 159 of the Income-tax Act,
2025 (30 of 2025), the Central Government hereby notifies that all the provisions of said Protocol, as annexed hereto,
shall be given effect to in the Union of India.
ANNEXURE
PROTOCOL
AMENDING THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH
RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME
The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
Desiring to conclude a Protocol to amend the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India
and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the avoidance of double taxation and the
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, signed in India on the 22nd day of January, 2013
(hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement").[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1
The Preamble of the Agreement shall be replaced by the following:
“The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka, desiring to conclude an Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal
evasion with respect to taxes on income and with a view to promoting economic cooperation between the two
countries;
Intending to eliminate double taxation with respect to the taxes covered by this Agreement without creating
opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance (including through treaty-
shopping arrangements aimed at obtaining reliefs provided in this Agreement for the indirect benefit of
residents of third States);
Have agreed as follows:”
ARTICLE 2
The existing paragraph 6 of Article 28 of the Agreement shall be deleted and replaced by the following:-
“6. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, a benefit under this Agreement shall not be
granted in respect of an item of income if it is reasonable to conclude, having regard to all relevant facts and
circumstances, that obtaining that benefit was one of the principal purposes of any arrangement or transaction
that resulted directly or indirectly in that benefit, unless it is established that granting that benefit in these
circumstances would be in accordance with the object and purpose of the relevant provisions of this
Agreement.”
ARTICLE 3
1. The Contracting States shall notify each other in writing, through diplomatic channels, the completion of the
procedures required by the respective laws for the entry into force of this Protocol.
2. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the later of the notifications referred to
in paragraph 1 of this Article.
3. The provisions of the Protocol shall thereupon have effect:
(a) in India:
In respect of income derived in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar
year in which the Agreement enters into force; and.
(b) in Sri Lanka:
In respect of income derived in any taxable year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar
year in which the Agreement enters into force.
4. This Protocol shall remain in effect as long as the Agreement remains in force.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.
DONE in duplicate at New Delhi on this 16th day of December 2024 each in the Hindi, Sinhala and English languages,
all the texts being equally authentic. In case of divergent interpretation of the texts, the English text shall prevail.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
OF INDIA DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF
SRI LANKA
[No. 88 /2026/F. No. 503/8/2005-FTD-II]
BHASKAR GOSWAMI, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.