CA Sri Lanka felicitates new tax chief

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently felicitated the newly appointed Commissioner General of the Department of Inland Revenue Mallika Samarasekara at a special ceremony in Colombo attended by chartered accountants, past commissioner generals, tax professionals and senior officers from the department.

CA Sri Lanka President Sujeewa Rajapakse in his address assured his institute’s continuing support to Samarasekara’s progressive initiatives to enhance the public confidence in the country’s tax system.

He noted that while tax may not be everyone’s favourite subject, it is vital for development specially for a country such as Sri Lanka which is in transition following a three decade long war.

“Tax reforms are necessary to stay relevant, it is also an indication that a country is changing with times. While the general public may look at tax with a negative attitude one must not forget the positive outcome it brings,” Rajapakse said.

He also underscored that both the Department and the Institute could continue to work together to establish stronger links which will be mutually beneficial to both organisations.

“The mutual assistance we can extend is vast and diverse and I believe the next few months shall be crucial in establishing this link of better cooperation between CA Sri Lanka and the Inland Revenue of Department,” the President said.

He maintained that that every effort will be taken to ensure that CA Sri Lanka members will continue to play a remarkable role in ensuring that the country’s taxation system is in keeping with modern international standards.

Samarasekara in her address highlighted that tax payers, the Inland Revenue and the accounting professionals are the main pillars of the tax system in the country.

“If one pillar gets collapsed, the entire system collapses,” she said.

The new tax chief also assured that every necessary step will be taken to ensure that a truly tax friendly culture is developed to bridge the gap between the tax payer and the department.

 “At present there is a huge gap between the tax payer and department, to ensure we have a tax friendly culture we need to develop a bond,” Samarasekara noted, while adding that both auditors and accountants should assist in helping develop this bond. 

 “I am not new to you; I have been working with you for the past 33 years. My doors will always be open to you,” she told the chartered accountants present at the felicitation event.