Revenue Officers vital cog in development wheel - Minister

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: The service of the revenue officers are vital in developing the country since the revenue officers form the key element in the revenue collecting mechanism in the country, said Minister of Finance and State Revenue and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday .

Addressing the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Inland Revenue Staff Officers Association, the Minister said the Government was seeking the maximum output from revenue officers to establish a culture of development in the country and diverting it on the developing path.

The Minister further said that moves are under way to get the maximum benefit of revenue officers as they are the heart of the revenue structure.

The Government has not taken any decision to restructure the Inland Revenue Department unlike the then UNP government which planned to convert it into an Authority.

The Minister stated that he had participated at protests at the Fort Railway Station with revenue officers against the then UNP Government's decision. "Hence, we are not now going to make this an Authority".

He said the Government would take necessary steps to develop the revenue system within the existing departmental structure.

The revenue officers are engaged in collecting more than 50 percent of the gross revenue of the country and the association as a responsible union, apart from safeguarding the interests of its members, have always been and shall continue to be mindful of its obligation to continuously work in unison, extending its fullest co-operation to the Authorities for the progress and development of the Inland Revenue Department, the Minister added.