Sri Lanka’s export sector leaders are calling for a renewed focus on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to boost the country’s exports, as highlighted by Ranil Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka (EASL). Speaking at a joint press briefing organized by the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) and other export-related chambers, Goonetilleke stressed the importance of negotiating FTAs in favor of Sri Lanka to facilitate export growth.
Jayantha Karunaratne, President of the National Chamber of Exporters Sri Lanka, emphasized the urgent need for effective policy-making to address the stagnation in merchandise exports and drive sustainable economic growth. He called for collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to tackle challenges and improve competitiveness by modernizing laws and regulations hindering Sri Lanka’s global market competitiveness.
Industry leaders such as Yohan Lawrence from the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL) highlighted challenges like fluctuating exchange rates impacting competitiveness in international markets. Ganesh Deivanayagam, Chairman of the Tea Exporters Association, discussed issues with value-added tax (VAT) on tea and the need for an effective refund mechanism. Sean Van Dort, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers Council, stressed the importance of digitalization in port and airport services for efficient international trade operations.
Pushpika Janadheera from the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products and Jehan Perinpanayagam from the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies also shared concerns about challenges facing their respective industries, including high production costs, land availability, certification standards, and the need for effective branding and talent retention strategies to achieve export revenue targets by 2030.