Sajith says US tariff move a “wake up call for SL”

Friday, 4 April 2025 04:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition Leader

Sajith Premadasa

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday described the US’s latest tariff move was a “wake up call for Sri Lanka.”

“The 44% US tariff is not just a trade issue, it’s a wake-up call. Those who are now in Government in the past blocked every trade deal, distrusted globalisation, and saw investment as intrusion. That legacy must end and they have to switch up their stance,” said Premadasa in an X post.

It also said the following:

“Sri Lanka needs a strategic reset:

Embrace partnerships over paranoia.
Stop the hate-mongering for the sake of appeasing some local cartels.
Build an Asia-centric trade strategy with India, ASEAN and Bangladesh.
Shift from tariffs to production-led, investor-friendly growth.

And above all, we must stop the silent defiance of regional interests of other nations. Protecting mutual interests is the only way forward. Posturing is not strategy. Mature nations negotiate. It’s time we did too.”