Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera has stated that plans are underway to simplify the country’s tax system, making it more efficient and user-friendly from next year.

Accordingly, necessary measures will be introduced to streamline the tax structure by eliminating additional levies imposed alongside customs duties. Similar simplified tax mechanisms will also be introduced across other government institutions, the Deputy Minister noted.

He made these remarks while attending the official launch of the digital signature and paperless customs declaration system.

“Plans are in place to make our tax system much simpler and more efficient from next year. We are taking the necessary steps to systematically streamline the tax structure by removing additional taxes imposed alongside customs duties. Similar simplified systems will be introduced across other institutions. We are also accelerating the integration of information technology systems within these entities. We consider the paperless customs declaration system launched today to be a significant milestone in this journey.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Jayaweera stated that Sri Lanka Customs had come close to achieving its revenue target for 2026.

“The ultimate vision of the President and the new government is to fully digitise all state institutions within a specified timeframe. In many other countries, National Single Window systems enable citizens, businesses and members of the trading community to access services and complete transactions through a single platform. We are currently working towards establishing such a system, and I consider this initiative to be an important step in that direction.”

He further stated that Sri Lanka Customs had been assigned a revenue target of Rs. 2,207 billion for 2026 and had, as of that time, come very close to achieving it. He added that an efficient and streamlined revenue collection mechanism was a positive development.