Sri Lanka, Nov. 2 -- A large number of people have visited the Inland Revenue Department's (IRD) head office to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), resulting in severe congestion.

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, IRD Spokesperson Nandana Kumara urged the public to use the online system to obtain their TIN numbers instead of visiting the department's offices.

He also requested the public to refrain from visiting regional offices unless absolutely necessary, in order to ease congestion.

The requirement to submit a TIN number for eight specified economic transactions, including banking and financial activities, came into effect yesterday (Nov. 1).

Accordingly, all resident individuals who had reached the age of 18 year...