President vows fiscal discipline, digital overhaul to protect public funds
COLOMBO – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (2) pledged sweeping reforms aimed at protecting public funds and restoring public trust in government spending, announcing cost-cutting measures under the President’s own budget and a nationwide push for digitalization across state services.
Speaking at the launch of National Tax Week at the Presidential Secretariat, President Dissanayake said, “I have taken steps to reduce expenditure under the President’s budget wherever possible. Every rupee of public money must be safeguarded”.
The event marked the launch of a new tax awareness campaign titled ‘Badu Shakthi’, which runs through June 7. It also saw the official rollout of a digital platform for submitting tax payment reports—part of the government’s broader plan to modernize public administration and improve revenue collection.
President Dissanayake characterized the reforms as the first substantial step toward eliminating misuse and wastage of state funds. He pledged to hold all public officials accountable and enforce the rule of law across the board. “This is not just about taxes—it is about dismantling a deeply rooted, corrupt mechanism within the state that prevents progress,” he said, cautioning, “If this system is not broken, the country will not develop. It will fall deeper into crisis.”
Central to his message was a call to rebuild trust between the state and the business community. “If you pay your taxes honestly, the state has a duty to protect you. I assure you, every rupee will be accounted for. If even one rupee is misused, we will take legal action without hesitation,” he declared.
The new digital tax filing platform, which went live on Monday, is expected to streamline reporting and enhance transparency. All tax submissions for the 2024–2025 assessment year must now be filed online through this system.
The Inland Revenue Department will host a series of public engagement events throughout National Tax Week to educate citizens and businesses about their tax obligations and the benefits of compliance in a reformed fiscal landscape.
-ENCL
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.