Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the primary government agency responsible for revenue collection, has surpassed its annual revenue target for the year. According to Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, this achievement is attributed to increased confidence among taxpayers and the enhanced credibility of the IRD.
Dr. Fernando made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at a ceremony on Monday, December 15, where appointment letters were presented to 100 new Assistant Commissioners joining the IRD.
“It is not an easy task to change the mindset of those who have experienced a lack of tax revenue being allocated for national development,” Dr. Fernando stated, as quoted in a release from the Finance Ministry.
He also expressed optimism that the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio, which had dropped to 8.5 percent in 2021, could rise to 16 percent by the end of this year.
Deputy Economic Development Minister Nishantha Jayaweera, who also addressed the ceremony, revealed that the revenue target set for the IRD for 2025 was Rs. 2,195 billion. He noted that the department has already exceeded this target, generating an additional Rs. 50 billion and marking the highest revenue recorded in recent history.
(Colombo/December 15, 2025)
