Arutha Debt & Tax Dialogue
Arutha hosted its inaugural conference, The Debt & Tax Dialogue, on 03 September 2025 at the Courtyard by Marriott. The conference brought together leading economists, policymakers, media, and civil society voices to examine the relationship between debt, taxation, and Sri Lanka’s economic future.
The conference opened with remarks from the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando. This was followed by a presentation from Arutha’s Executive Director, Yolani Fernando, who spoke on the country’s tax challenges and the evolving relationship between taxpayers and the state.
The first panel discussion explored the importance of fairness and accountability in tax policy and delved into strategies to improve the tax system to support economic recovery and long-term fiscal sustainability. Panelists included Mr. D. R. S. Hapurachchi, former Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue Department; Professor Mick Moore, Political Economist and taxation specialist from the Institute of Development Studies; and Ms. Sarah Afker, Head of Tax Services at BDO Partners. The session was moderated by Yolani Fernando.
The second presentation of the event was delivered by Umesh Moramudali, Arutha’s Director of Debt Research. This focused on Sri Lanka’s evolving debt dynamics, the implications of the 2022 default, and the prospects under new policies and reform agendas.
The final panel discussion moderated by Shaheen Abdul Gani addressed Sri Lanka’s path to economic recovery in the context of recent crises. It touched on the country’s readiness to tackle debt repayments and measures to rebuild confidence in the economy. This featured Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Ms. Romali Tudawe, CEO of Tudawe Brothers; and Umesh Moramudali. Both panels concluded with engaging Q&A sessions.
The event was streamed live on Facebook and can be accessed below:
Session 01: https://web.facebook.com/share/v/1B1D18X3RN/
Session 02: https://web.facebook.com/share/v/173eY1RxVu/
