The 15th IMF–Japan High-Level Tax Conference for Asian Countries opened on Thursday, bringing together policymakers, senior tax officials and international experts to discuss regional tax policy and administration.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera has departed for Japan to represent Sri Lanka at the summit, Hiru News reported.
What is on the agenda
The two-day conference, due to conclude on Friday, focuses on:
- Strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation
- Improving tax administration
- Sharing experience on emerging challenges in international taxation
The event is described as a platform for participating Asian countries to exchange approaches to modernising tax systems, improving compliance and building regional cooperation on cross-border tax matters.
Why it matters for Sri Lanka
Domestic revenue mobilisation is the central plank of Sri Lanka’s IMF programme. Raising the tax-to-GDP ratio — and widening a narrow direct-tax base — is the condition on which most of the fiscal targets in that programme rest, which makes a regional forum on exactly that subject more than a routine diplomatic engagement.
Jayaweera has been the minister fronting that effort domestically, including meetings with the Inland Revenue Department on broadening the tax base and recovering arrears.
Not reported
Hiru does not name the host city or venue, say which other countries are attending, identify the officials accompanying the Deputy Minister, or state whether Sri Lanka is presenting at the conference or attending only. It does not report the cost of the delegation’s participation, whether the Inland Revenue Department or Treasury is separately represented, or what Sri Lanka expects to bring back from the discussions. No corroborating report from another verified newsroom was found at the time of writing.
