Department of Public Administration Participates in National Dialogue on Fair Taxation and Stronger Social Contract for the SDGs

The Department of Public Administration of University of Sri Jayewardenepura took part in the “National Dialogue on Fair Taxation and Stronger Social Contract for the Sustainable Development Goals,” held on June 12, 2024, at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo. This event was co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Finance/Inland Revenue Department, the University of Moratuwa, and the National Innovation Agency of Sri Lanka.

Amidst the ongoing economic recovery efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka, taxation and fiscal policies assume paramount importance, emphasizing the need for establishing a stronger social contract between the government and citizens. Therefore, the purpose of this event was to set the platform for a timely national discourse on taxation for convergence of perspectives from diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, legislators, bureaucrats, academics, civil society organizations, relevant professional bodies, and private sector.

The dialogue featured in-depth discussions on the perceptions of taxpayers in Sri Lanka, emphasizing the importance of tax morale, trust, fairness, transparency, and the digitalization of tax systems. The Head of the Department, Dr R P C K Jayasinghe and three undergraduates from the Department participated in this event representing the Department of Public Administration.