A party leaders’ meeting was held today (10) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address the implications of the newly imposed US tariffs on Sri Lanka’s economy and to discuss future measures in response.
This meeting was convened following a request by a group of opposition Members of Parliament to engage directly with the President regarding this critical matter.
During the session, President Dissanayake provided a detailed briefing on the findings of the committee appointed to assess the new US tariff policy and to recommend appropriate government responses. He also outlined the steps already undertaken by the government to mitigate the situation.
The discussions included a comprehensive review of the challenges identified by the committee, as well as proposals put forward by the opposition parties. In particular, the meeting focused on formulating proposals for dialogue with the US government and exploring strategies for diversifying Sri Lanka’s export markets.
It was agreed that the proposals presented during the meeting—both from the committee and from the various political parties—will be consolidated and further discussed with party leaders in future sessions.
The meeting was attended by a wide array of political representatives including:
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa,
- MP Harsha de Silva (Samagi Jana Balawegaya),
- MP S. Rasamanikkam (Tamil National Alliance),
- MP Ravi Karunanayake (New Democratic Front),
- MP D.V. Chanaka (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna),
- MPs Mano Ganesan and Palani Digambaram (Tamil Progressive Alliance),
- MP M.L.A.M. Hizbullah (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress),
- MP Rishad Bathiudeen (All Ceylon People’s Congress),
- MP Dilith Jayaweera (Sarvajana Balaya Party),
- MP Jeevan Thondaman (United National Party),
- MP Dayasiri Jayasekara (Sri Lanka Freedom Party),
- MP A. Archuna (representing 17 independent groups).
Other MPs including Gayantha Karunathilaka, Kavinda Jayawardena, S.M. Marikkar, and Kader Mastan were also present and contributed to the discussions.
