COLOMBO ; Former foreign minister Ali Sabry said herein COLOMBO on Saturday, May 16 that the Government’s decision to impose a 50% surcharge on the import of vehicles, in the midst of escalating global uncertainty and external pressures, is a prudent and timely measure aimed at protecting Sri Lanka’s fragile external sector and preserving scarce foreign exchange reserves.
” If you follow my page , I have been saying this from the first day of the war as I always thought the war may prolong more than US and Israel predicted and anticipated.
Equally important is the clarity provided in exempting Letters of Credit opened on or before 15th May 2026. That is a sensible and fair safeguard. It avoids unnecessary uncertainty, prevents retrospective complications, and protects already embattled importers from further hardship and arbitrary administrative difficulties. In times of crisis, clarity, consistency, and fairness in implementation are just as important as the policy itself.
Sri Lanka’s economic recovery remains highly vulnerable to global instability, particularly conflicts that disrupt energy markets, trade routes, supply chains, investor confidence, tourism, and external financing conditions. Small and import-dependent economies like ours pay a disproportionately heavy price for wars and geopolitical confrontations.
Ultimately, this is precisely why Sri Lanka and other like-minded nations must continue to urge all parties involved in conflicts to pursue peaceful negotiations, diplomacy, and resolution through dialogue rather than aggression, escalation, and invasions. The economic and human costs of war extend far beyond borders and are often borne most painfully by ordinary people in vulnerable nations.”
