President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (2) praised Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena for his pivotal role in leading tax and institutional reforms during a critical period in Sri Lanka’s recent history.

Speaking at the inauguration of National Tax Week, President Dissanayake highlighted that Sri Lanka had, over time, become a country with one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world. “We know, as the Secretary himself has often said, that this situation required urgent and fair correction. He undertook the difficult task of reversing that trajectory through a series of institutional and legal reforms,” the President stated.

Referring to Siriwardena’s upcoming departure from the Finance Ministry, the President announced that he would be retiring at the end of this month. He will assume duties as the Alternate Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), representing Sri Lanka and seven other countries.

“This is a moment to express deep gratitude,” the President said. “We acknowledge the essential reforms he led and the steadiness he brought to the Ministry during a time of great national difficulty.”

President Dissanayake further remarked on the broader message this sends about leadership in public service. “As we’ve seen with institutions like the Bribery Commission, even one individual can bring about meaningful change. Secretary Siriwardena is an example of that.”

Meanwhile, the President also used the platform to reaffirm the government’s commitment to fair taxation and responsible fiscal management, calling National Tax Week an opportunity to engage the public in understanding the importance of sustainable revenue policies.