Ranaweera Associates Managing Partner Athula Ranaweera called for stronger tax education for both taxpayers and revenue officers, speaking at the 5th Annual Economic and Tax Symposium organised by the Faculty of Taxation of CA Sri Lanka on 2 July 2026.
Participating in the panel discussion on “Enhancing Tax System Efficiency to Support Economic Growth,” Ranaweera argued that most compliance failures in Sri Lanka arise from a lack of understanding rather than deliberate evasion. With tax legislation growing increasingly complex, many taxpayers — particularly small and medium-sized enterprises — struggle to meet their obligations without professional assistance.
While other panellists focused on tax policy, investor confidence and digital transformation, Ranaweera stressed the practical side of taxation, maintaining that legislation and technology alone cannot deliver an effective tax system. Improving taxpayer education, he said, would reduce unintentional errors, cut down disputes and penalties, and strengthen voluntary compliance more effectively than enforcement alone.
He also highlighted the need for continuous professional training within the Inland Revenue Department, noting that taxpayers sometimes receive conflicting technical opinions from different officers on the same issue. Consistent interpretation of tax law, he said, is essential for building taxpayer confidence, and officers should be trained in communication and taxpayer engagement alongside technical competence.
Ranaweera identified the IRD, professional bodies and tax practitioners as the three groups responsible for improving tax literacy nationally, and cautioned that digitalisation will only change how returns are filed — not improve compliance itself — unless it is matched by education.
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