Inland Revenue officers’ role hailed
Highest revenue in the 93-year history of Inland Revenue collected in 2025
• Surplus of Rs. 33 billion over the expected target
• Thank you to everyone who contributed
Let us work together: we can transform the country —— President
The Inland Revenue Department collected Rs. 2,203 billion in 2025, the highest amount in its 93-year history. This represents a surplus of Rs. 33 billion over the revenue target for the year and a 15 per cent increase compared with the revenue collected in the previous year, stated Commissioner-General of Inland Revenue Ms Rukdevi Fernando.
She made these remarks at a discussion at the Department’s auditorium under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Marking the first occasion in the 93-year history of the Inland Revenue Department that a President has visited the Department, the President attended a meeting with the staff to review the progress achieved in 2025 and the new plans for 2026.
The President expressed his appreciation to all officers and staff of the Inland Revenue Department for exceeding the revenue target set by the Government, and urged everyone to continue working towards a common objective to realise the economic transformation required for the country.
Emphasising that no individual is entitled to the privilege of evading taxes, the President stated that the era in which tax compliance was based on personal, familial, or political affiliations has come to an end. He further stressed that the law will be enforced without hesitation, irrespective of status, against those who attempt to evade taxes.
The President also noted that tax collection is neither repression nor coercion but a legitimate State right, adding that necessary changes will be made to laws, regulations, designations, and staffing to secure this contribution.
He emphasised that the Government’s objective is to ensure that the benefits of these economic achievements flow to the country’s people. The Government is focusing on improving essential public services to enhance the quality of life, undertaking a new transformation of the transport system, and allocating sufficient resources to develop the education and health sectors.
The President also highlighted the need for a targeted programme to effectively collect taxes due to the Government by addressing issues such as improving tax literacy, simplifying the tax system, and addressing staff shortages.
Ms Rukdevi Fernando stated that the professional competence and dedication of the Department’s officers were the key factors behind this success.
She further noted that a revenue target of Rs. 2,401 billion has been set for 2026 and that the Department expects to achieve it through programmes to enhance tax compliance and broaden the tax base.
In addition, she said that the Department plans to expand third-party data sharing, strengthen investigations into domestic and overseas assets, take over the RAMIS system, reinforce risk-based auditing, introduce e-invoicing, adopt modern technology for tax administration, and enhance tax ethics in 2026.
Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Commissioner-General of Inland Revenue Ms Rukdevi Fernando, and senior officials and staff of the Department were present at the occasion.