The inaugural ceremony of ‘Badhu Shakthi 2026′ National Tax Week, a year-long initiative aimed at strengthening State revenue generation and fostering a culture of voluntary tax compliance, was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Parliament Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
Organised by the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernisation Unit of the Presidential Secretariat, the program seeks to transform public perceptions of taxation while broadening the country’s tax base and supporting the country’s long-term economic development.
As part of the initiative, National Tax Week will be observed across the country from 6 to 10 July, accompanied by a countrywide media and public awareness campaign, including the distribution of educational material and promotional activities to encourage greater tax compliance.
Dr. Wickramaratne said: ”Badhu Shakthi 2026′ was not merely a tax collection campaign, but a national movement aimed at cultivating responsible citizens committed to the country’s development.’
He said the economic independence and long-term stability of any sovereign nation depended on strong State revenue, with taxation serving as one of the key pillars of national development.
Dr. Wickramaratne acknowledged that taxation had long been viewed negatively, attributing the perception to shortcomings in tax administration and political patronage that had enabled tax evasion in the past.
The Speaker said the current Government had succeeded in improving public confidence by demonstrating that tax revenue was being utilised transparently for development and public welfare.
He noted that major infrastructure projects, including expressways, highways, and power projects, were now being financed through domestic resources rather than foreign borrowing.
Dr. Wickramaratne cited the commencement of the Kandy Expressway without external loans and Cabinet approval for the Kurunegala-Galewela Road project as examples of the country’s growing ability to finance development independently.
He also said tax revenue had enabled the Government to allocate Rs. 500 billion in response to Cyclone Ditwah while expanding assistance through the President’s Fund, including educational support for schoolchildren across the country.
The Speaker stressed that increasing public awareness of how tax revenue is utilised would strengthen confidence in the tax system, helping to expand the tax base, improve compliance, and reduce tax evasion. He added that if every citizen paid their fair share of taxes, the overall tax burden on individuals could be reduced.
Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said a better public understanding of taxation would help accelerate Sri Lanka’s economic and social transformation.
He said although individuals pursued personal aspirations, many national goals could only be achieved through collective effort and cooperation. He noted that paying taxes had become much simpler through improvements to the tax administration system, enabling more efficient and systematic revenue collection.
Dr. Fernando said the Government also recognised its responsibility to manage public finances prudently and ensure tax revenue was used effectively for the benefit of society. He warned that poor financial discipline would undermine public confidence and discourage tax compliance.
He said the Government had therefore introduced a tax administration system based on fiscal discipline and would not tolerate fraud, corruption or waste, adding that rebuilding the country required every citizen to contribute willingly with a sense of national responsibility rather than merely complying with legal obligations.