The Cabinet of Ministers has approved appointing Senior Special Grade Officer of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), U.D.N. Jayaweera as the Acting Commissioner General of Excise with immediate effect.

Speaking during the Cabinet press conference held this morning (08), Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the Sri Lanka Excise Department is the main revenue collection agency of the government and the efficiency and the good governance of this department directly affects the revenue of the government. 

The said department should be given leadership that can achieve future challenges and goals while maintaining the progress of fulfillment of the revenue targets of the department, he said, noting that accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as in his capacity as a Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Policy Formulation, Planning, and Tourism to dismiss the service of J.M.Gunasiri, who is presently serving as the Commissioner General of Excise on a contract basis with immediate effect and to appoint Jayaweera who is presently serving as an additional secretary (Agency Coordination II) of the President Secretariat, as the Commissioner General of Excise.