The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka has presented its comprehensive proposals for the 2026 National Budget to Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, outlining a roadmap to reform, rebuild, and reshape a resilient Sri Lankan economy.
Submitted under the theme “Reform. Rebuild. Reshape – Resilient Sri Lanka,” the proposals aim to advance the Government’s vision for a transparent, sustainable, and digitally empowered economic framework. ACCA’s recommendations focus on strengthening fiscal responsibility, enhancing private sector competitiveness, and driving environmentally sustainable growth.
The proposal framework is built on five core pillars: tax reforms; public transport and infrastructure; SME and innovation development; digital transformation; and governance and sustainable financing. Each pillar is designed to promote transparency, inclusivity, and long-term economic resilience.
ACCA calls for a modern and equitable taxation system that balances revenue needs with business growth. Key recommendations include targeted VAT concessions for essential sectors, the use of Digital Public Infrastructure to improve tax compliance, green taxation to support environmental goals, SME tax reliefs and ESG incentives, maintaining export competitiveness through SVAT and VAT deferment, and simplified taxation for the diaspora to encourage remittances.
The association also highlights the need to modernise public transport and infrastructure by promoting electric buses, upgrading railways, encouraging PPP-led development projects, introducing AI-enabled smart mobility, integrating SL-UDI ticketing systems, and implementing urban sustainability initiatives to reduce emissions and ease congestion.
To strengthen SMEs, ACCA proposes a Digital One-Stop SME Hub for access to finance, licensing, and export support, along with capacity-building programmes, Green Upgrade Loans, R&D commercialisation, and a diaspora-linked investment network to foster innovation-driven growth.
Further, ACCA suggests enhancing digital transformation through full interoperability of GovPay, SL-UDI, and POS systems, a national e-procurement platform, SME digital adoption incentives, and a National Cybersecurity Framework to safeguard the digital economy.
In the area of governance and sustainable financing, ACCA recommends measures to boost transparency and ESG-linked investment, including green bonds, IPSAS-aligned reporting, strengthened audits, performance-based management of State-Owned Enterprises, and improvements to customs operations.
Speaking on the proposals, Nilusha Ranasinghe, Head of South Asia for ACCA Sri Lanka, said the focus is on building a resilient economic ecosystem grounded in transparency, digital innovation, and sustainability. ACCA Chairman Chaaminda Kumarasiri added that the recommendations aim to support sustainable development, inclusive growth, and accelerated digital transformation.
Reaffirming its long-term commitment, ACCA Sri Lanka said its 2026 Budget Insights are intended to help Sri Lanka rebuild investor confidence, generate employment, and emerge stronger, greener, and globally competitive.
