The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called on the government to introduce a fair and equitable tax policy for professionals, including doctors.
The association said it has prepared a series of scientific and analytical proposals for the upcoming Budget and intends to submit them to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
According to the GMOA, the proposals seek to provide tax relief to professionals while ensuring that government tax revenue is not adversely affected.
The association stressed that doctors and other professionals who continued to serve the country and fulfill their responsibilities during its most challenging periods should receive greater fairness and urgent relief under the current tax system.
The GMOA noted that the government collected more than Rs. 5,400 billion in tax revenue last year, describing it as the highest tax revenue recorded in the country.
It further said that despite amendments and relief measures introduced to the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax system, PAYE tax collections in 2025 exceeded the projected amount by more than 30%.
The association said professionals, including doctors, are currently under significant economic pressure, with nearly 36% of their salaries being deducted as direct taxes in addition to the burden of indirect taxation.
The GMOA therefore called for a sustainable and strategic programme to retain skilled professionals and valuable human resources in Sri Lanka.
It warned that failing to address these concerns could contribute to the continued departure of skilled professionals, eventually placing the country at risk of becoming a “knowledge desert.”
The association urged the government to take immediate steps to establish a fairer tax environment for professionals while safeguarding the country’s overall tax revenue.