Category: Watch Tower
Opinion: Why Sri Lanka Should Be Ready for “B-READY”
In 2024, the global approach to measuring business climate saw a major transformation. The World Bank Group introduced the Business Ready (B-READY) Index, its new flagship report aimed at assessing the business and investment environment across countries. This index replaces the discontinued Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report and brings with it a more robust, […]
Opinion: Attracting FDI and managing BOP?
By Indika Hettiarachchi Retained profits or reinvested earnings of existing Foreign Direct Investment (“FDI”) backed ventures usually comprise a significant share of Sri Lanka’s (official) FDI figures. This means a significant share of reported FDI do not represent actual foreign “cash” coming into the county to finance (new) investment. In other words, an increase in […]
The Once and Future Industrial Northern Province
By Jekhan Aruliah The Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlparnam, CCIY, was born in the short period of optimism in 1999. When the Sri Lankan Civil War, at that time already aflame for 16 years, seemed to be heading toward a settlement. Opposing sides were sitting at the same negotiating table. That optimism was […]
Opinion: Sri Lanka’s Missing Economic Pillar – The Case for a Sovereign Wealth Fund
By Jithendra Antonio In the sterile corridors of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, where foreign reserve monitors once displayed catastrophic readings of $50 million in 2022—a 99% collapse from $7.6 billion just three years prior—a fundamental question haunts policymakers: Why does a nation with $84 billion in GDP, strategic Indian Ocean positioning, and diverse […]
Navigating Global Trade Shifts: Sri Lanka Exports for Global Success
By Shiran Fernando Chief Economic Policy Advisor at The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka has weathered a relentless succession of economic shocks in recent years. The turmoil began with the constitutional crisis in 2018, followed by the tragic Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. As the country began charting a path to recovery, the COVID-19 […]
Going Beyond the US Reciprocal Tariffs: Sri Lanka’s Exposure to the Tariffs and Exemptions
By Dr Asanka Wijesinghe The United States’ (US) proclamation of “reciprocal tariffs” dealt a blow to the global trade system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles. With the individualised tariff rates, the US has discarded non-discrimination in the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff structure. The “reciprocal tariff” rate does not show any reciprocity but rather […]
Opinion: Exposure to US tariffs through Global Value Chains in Asia & Pacific
On 2 April 2025, the United States introduced a two-tier tariff regime comprising a 10 per cent universal baseline tariff and elevated country-specific tariffs of up to 50 per cent, targeting 57 countries—including many in the Asia-Pacific—with limited exemptions. Although the country-specific tariffs were suspended on 9 April for all but China, policy uncertainty remains. […]
Opinion: Sri Lanka’s Billion-Dollar Gamble for Energy Security Reshaping Global Energy Trade
By Jithendra Antonio The Hambantota Sinopec Oil Refinery – A Strategic Bet on the Future In the evolving landscape of global energy trade, few moves are as audacious as Sri Lanka’s decision to greenlight a multi-billion-dollar oil refinery in Hambantota. More than an infrastructure project, this refinery signals Sri Lanka’s ambition to reposition itself at […]
Ripple Effects: How US Trade Policies Cast a Long Shadow Over Sri Lanka and Beyond
By Uddeepa Peiris MBA, PDGBA, Bcom(Sp), RIA, ACPM, CMA (Passed Finalist),ASA (CPA) Introduction In an interconnected global economy, the trade policies of major powers like the United States have far-reaching consequences. While geographically distant, Sri Lanka—along with numerous other emerging markets—finds itself vulnerable to the shifting tides of US trade strategies. This article delves into […]
Implications of 44-pct US Tariff on SL Trade & Strategic Response: Assessing Economic Impact
By Dr Gayan GunewardanaBSc, MBA, GARF/FRM, CIMA/CGMA, AIB, Ph.D. Introduction The imposition of a 44% reciprocal tariff by the U.S. on Sri Lankan exports, particularly on key sectors such as apparel, has introduced significant risks to the country’s export-driven economy. As the U.S. represents over 40% of Sri Lanka’s apparel export market, this steep tariff increase is […]
Seafoods, Seacucumber, and Seizing Opportunity in Jaffna
By Jekhan Aruliah Mr Ganendran is from Navaly, near Manipay Jaffna. Born in 1975 to a Christian Catholic family, Ganendran had his schooling from Grade 3 to A’Levels at St Patrick’s College. St Patrick’s is one of the leading Jaffna schools, not far from Jaffna Fort. In the midst of the Sri Lankan Civil War, […]
Sri Lanka’s Future – Budget 2025 & Strategic Proposals for Economic Stabilization
By Dr. Gayan Gunewardana BSc, MBA, PhD, CIMA/ ACMA/CGMA, FRM, AIB Sri Lanka’s Budget 2025 sets an ambitious yet pragmatic foundation for economic recovery and sustainable development, presenting a forward-looking framework that balances immediate stabilization with strategic long-term growth. With a planned expenditure of Rs. 7.19 trillion against a projected revenue of Rs. 4.99 trillion, […]