News
UNDP provides recommendations to GoSL on realigning and leveraging taxes to achieve the SDGs in Lanka
(UNDP)Taxation is intricately linked to gender equality and is a fundamental foundation to address intersectional inequality challenges. Accordingly, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting governments to establish gender-responsive tax systems, which involves carrying out national level diagnostic assessment on tax and gender; through research and capacity building; adapting the Gender Equality Seal for Tax Administrations; and strengthening gender equality perspectives and analyses in tax policy decision-making at national and international levels.
In Sri Lanka, the Country Engagement Plan (CEP) agreed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and UNDP seeks to bring together the national priorities on financing for development and the Sustinable Development Goals (SDGs) with a specific focus on taxation. Under this, UNDP will also support research and capacity development in the country on the use of tax policies to achieve SDGs on Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Gender Equality (SDG 5). CEP is demand-driven and focuses on the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the revenue authority which are the central points for articulating national requirements vis-aÌ-vis taxation and development.
In this vein, an in-country UNDP SDGs Taxation Framework (STF) Diagnostic Evaluation mission took place from 21st-25th August, with the mission evaluation report and findings being handed over today. The report was handed over to Hon. Min. Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance by Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka. Also present was Mr. Ranjith Hapuarachchi, Commissioner General, Inland Revenue Department (IRD); Ms. Rukdevi Fernando, Deputy Commissioner General, Tax Policy, Legislation, International Affairs & Legal, Inland Revenue Department (IRD); and UNDP mission members including Dr Amna Khalifa, Technical and Outreach Specialist SDG Taxation Framework; Caroline Othim, Technical Specialist, Taxation and Gender Equality; and Sudarshan Kasthurirangan Regional Programme Tax Specialist for UNDP Asia Pacific.
The purpose of the mission was to promote a shared understanding of Tax and SDGs issues at the national level, while supporting the carrying out a self-evaluation using an SDG taxation framework, to evaluate the coherence of tax systems with respect to specific targets for SDG 17 (related to Domestic Resource Mobilization) and SDG 5 (related to Gender Equality). This diagnostic framework will help assist Sri Lanka in setting tax reform priorities and sequencing efforts in areas where greater support is needed to realign and leverage taxes to achieve the SDGs.
The Department of Education has announced that the results of the 2024 General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on : www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the training of teachers required for the new education reforms will commence in May, and that contracts granted to political cronies in local government institutions will be brought to an end following the upcoming local government elections.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held in the areas of Mirigama, Minuwangoda, and Katana in the Gampaha District.
Addressing the gatherings, Prime Minister stated:
“From birth to death, all the aspects of life of a person are handled by local government institutions. However, to this day, these institutions lack proper systems even to provide the people with basic facilities.
We are committed to working with a proper system, free of fraud and corruption, and managing every rupee carefully and attentively. We are identifying the needs of people and implementing projects under a systematic plan to develop rural sectors.
You elect fellow members who stand firmly against fraud and corruption through two decisive elections. First, you elect Anura Kumara as President, a leader committed to fighting corruption. Then, in the parliamentary election, you choose a group of qualified individuals who are equally dedicated to this cause to represent you in Parliament.
To ensure that the funds allocated for rural development reach the people, the local government institutions which are the closest to the villagers must also be clean and transparent. That is why this election is so important to us.
The people and the villages come to experience our corruption-free political culture through local government institutions. These institutions must properly implement, monitor, and evaluate the development projects allocated to the rural sector. The era of awarding contracts for such projects to political cronies must end.
Although early childhood development is a crucial part of education, there has never been a proper system for it. We are now establishing such a system. Starting in May, teacher training for the modern education which is being introduced will begin. We have a comprehensive plan for development across all sectors.
The Ministry of Education has received billions worth of projects, but there is no proper implementation process. For example, 1,500 smart boards were brought for smart classrooms, but the Secretary to the Ministry has not implemented a system to distribute them to schools. Teachers have not been trained to use them. Teacher training institutes still follow outdated curriculum. This will be corrected through the new education reforms,
In order to deliver all these benefits to the rural sector efficiently, it is essential to elect the right people for the right purposes. Therefore, in the upcoming local government elections, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya urged the public to vote for the candidates who are free from fraud and corruption presented by the National People’s Power (NPP).”
The event was attended by Parliament Chief Organizer of the ruling party Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Members of Parliament Ruwanthilaka Jayakody and Chaminda Lalith Kumara, along with several local government candidates and the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will represent Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City, the Ministry said.
The funeral is scheduled for today.
About 50,000 people came to pay their respects to the late Pope on Thursday, the Vatican news service said.
“Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul,” according to the Vatican news service.
“The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.”
Results of 2024 GCE Advanced Level examination released
Training teachers for the new education reforms will commence in May – PM
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