The report from the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to investigate and recommend effective utilization of the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS) was recently presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President's Office.
Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policy, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, issued Cabinet Memorandum No. 24/0696/604/079 on 'Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS) - Obtaining Maintenance Services' dated April 8, 2024. This Cabinet Sub-Committee was appointed following the Cabinet's decision.
The sub-committee, chaired by Minister of Power and Energy Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera, included Ministers Tiran Alles and Nalin Fernando as members.
The report, prepared with seven main recommendations, underscores the importance and urgency of effectively utilizing the Income Administration Management Information System.
The key recommendations of the report are;
- Initiate the Expression of Interest (EOI) process to identify suitable partner(s) for managing the application and infrastructure of the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS).
- Promptly prepare and implement a comprehensive takeover plan before the expiry of the current maintenance contract with Singapore Corporation Enterprises (SCE).
- Following the introduction of Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017, prioritize clearing the system backlog from the assessment year 2019/2020 onwards and report its monthly progress to the Council of Ministers on a quarterly basis.
- Use the National Identity Card (or a future alternative introduced for this purpose) exclusively for identifying individuals for tax collection purposes.
- Integrate the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS) with a Connected Government Framework that links various government institutions.
- Simplify the tax revenue collection process by developing a user-friendly portal with enhanced user experience (UX) improvements and streamlined online communication.
- Prioritize the amendment of laws and regulations to implement the tax policy changes recommended in this report.