All-party meeting brainstorms way out of high US tariffs

President Anura Kmara Disanayake 

Sajith Premadasa, Gayantha Karunatilake and Mano Ganesan

Dr. Harsha de Silva

S.M. Marikkar

Shanakiyan Rasamanickam

Dilith Jayaweera

Jeevan Thondaman

• President Anura Kumara Disanayake briefs party leaders on findings of special committee appointed to study implications of new US tariff regime
• Party leaders discuss findings of a special committee and agree on urgent diplomatic engagement with the US
• MPs call for trade diversification and bilateral deals based on HS codes to protectkey exports
• Proposals from meeting will be reviewed by Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministries for follow-up action
• SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva says dialogue with President Disanayake as “successful”; insists ECTA India is urgent

President Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday led a productive all-party meeting to tackle rising concerns over the high reciprocal tariffs announced by the US and possible repercussions on Sri Lanka’s economy.

The meeting was held in response to a request from several Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who called for a direct discussion with the President on formulating a national response to the issue.  A statement by the President’s Media Division noted that President Disanayake began the session by briefing the party leaders on the findings of a special committee appointed to study the implications of the US tariff regime.  

The committee had been tasked with analysing emerging economic risks under the new trade conditions and offering policy recommendations to mitigate the damage.

In an in-depth discussion, party leaders reviewed the committee’s findings and exchanged views on how best to engage the US Government 

diplomatically. There was a consensus on the urgency to initiate formal dialogue with Washington, and to explore strategic pathways including bilateral trade agreements based on the Harmonised System (HS) codes to safeguard key Sri Lankan exports.

The conversation also shifted toward long-term solutions. Participating MPs emphasised the need for Sri Lanka to reduce its dependency on a narrow band of export markets and to diversify into other global regions, thereby building resilience against similar shocks in the future.

The proposals brought forward during the meeting from both the Committee and Opposition parties will be consolidated and taken up for further deliberation, with follow-up action expected from the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministries.

A wide spectrum of political representation added depth to the discussion. 

Among those in attendance were Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB MPs Dr. Harsha de Silva, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Kavinda Jayawardena and S.M. Marikkar, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP S. Rasamanickam, New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Ravi Karunanayake, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP D.V. Chanaka, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MPs Mano Ganesan and Palani Digambaram, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) MP M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) MP Rishad Bathiudeen, Sarvajana Balaya Party (SBP) MP Dilith Jayaweera, United National Party (UNP) MP Jeevan Thondaman, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, and MP A. Archuna representing 17 Independent Groups also participated and offered their insights.

Separately, following the meeting, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva posted on X, describing the dialogue with President Disanayake as “successful.” 

He confirmed that consensus was reached on the need to pursue a HS code-based bilateral trade agreement with the US stating: “Two channels opened. We will support. ECTA India is urgent.”