President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the inaugural ceremony of National Tax Week, pledged to dismantle the black economy built on racketeering, stating that a legal and accountable system would be established to protect public funds.
Speaking at the Presidential Secretariat, he said his own expenditure as President had been reduced wherever possible to ensure every rupee of the public is safeguarded.
He emphasized that tax money will be fully protected, and if anyone misuses it, legal action will follow. “I urge all citizens to pay taxes. We will protect every rupee,” he assured.
The President also noted that digitization would improve state services and transparency, adding that a deeply rooted, interconnected network of financial abuse within state institutions must be dismantled. “If we fail to break this structure, the country will not move forward even by an inch,” he warned.
The Inland Revenue Department’s online platform for submitting tax returns was also officially launched at the event. The initiative, named “Badu Shakthi,” will run until June 7, aiming to raise public awareness and improve tax compliance during the 2024–2025 assessment year. (Newswire)