By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has collected more than Rs. 2 trillion in tax revenue during the first nine months of 2026, reaching 85% of its full-year target by September 30.
The department collected Rs. 2,040 billion between January and September, marking a 24% increase compared with the Rs. 1,642 billion collected during the corresponding period of 2025.
The increase has amounted to an additional Rs. 398 billion in tax revenue compared with the first nine months of last year, reflecting a significant rise in collections as the Government seeks to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.
Based on the IRD’s reported 85% achievement, its full-year 2026 revenue target is approximately Rs. 2.4 trillion. The department would therefore need to collect roughly another Rs. 360 billion during the final quarter to reach the implied annual target.
The latest figures come as Sri Lanka continues to place greater emphasis on domestic tax revenue as part of its broader fiscal consolidation efforts following the country’s economic crisis and debt restructuring.
Higher tax collection has become a central component of the Government’s efforts to improve public finances, reduce fiscal vulnerabilities and maintain the revenue targets underpinning its ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The strong nine-month performance also places the IRD on a significantly higher collection trajectory than in 2025. However, the final-quarter outcome will determine whether the department can fully meet its annual target, particularly as tax collections can vary across the year depending on the timing of corporate, income and other tax payments.
With Rs. 2.04 trillion already collected by the end of September, the department has achieved more than four-fifths of its annual target with three months of the year still remaining.
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