Sri Lanka's top presidential advisor has highlighted the mounting pressure that Pay-As-You-Earn taxation places on ordinary citizens, urging immediate intervention to ease the financial strain.
The Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, has called for swift government action to relieve the substantial financial pressure caused by PAYE taxation on Sri Lankan households and workers. Speaking at a conference in Colombo, Dr. Kumanayake emphasized that addressing the current situation cannot be postponed and requires prompt intervention.
Beyond immediate relief measures, the Presidential Secretary advocated for modernizing the country's revenue collection infrastructure. He stressed the need to upgrade Sri Lanka's Inland Revenue Department to match the standards and efficiency found in developed nations, suggesting that improved institutional capacity could contribute to a more equitable tax system.
These remarks were delivered during the 21st Annual General Conference of the Association of Inland Revenue Commissioners, an event that brought together key figures in the nation's tax administration. Attendees included Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera and Inland Revenue Commissioner General R.P.H. Fernando, alongside the Presidential Secretary.