Business
EU calls for ‘time horizon’ on Sri Lanka import ban
by Sanath Nanayakkare
Sri Lanka should give a ‘horizon’ to its businesses and potential investors as to until when the import ban will be in place, Denis Chaibi, ambassador/ Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and Maldives said at the official launch of the Sri Lanka Trade Information Portal (SLTIP), held at Shangri La Colombo recently.
The 4-year EU funded project worth EUR 8 million supports local SMEs’ export competitiveness in regional and EU markets as well as value addition in sectors with high potential for economic growth and development.
Excerpts from ambassador Chaibi’s speech:
“This project is a good indication of our overall relationship which is characterised by engagement, respect and results. This project sends three powerful messages. The first one is about the importance of the EU market to Sri Lanka and vice versa. The EU is the second export market for Sri Lanka just after the US”.
“If you take the EU’s trade figures with Sri Lanka in 2019 and if you add services and the EU tourists who came to the island – hopefully who will return soon – you can see the importance of the EU”.
“Further the return of GSP in 2017 was a significant development that led to more than a quarter’s increase of exports from Sri Lanka to the EU. It’s not only the biggest market in terms of quantity. But it’s also an important market in terms of quality”.
“I have been in Sri Lanka a bit more than a year and the thing that strikes me every day is the quality of Sri Lankan products. If you compare the cinnamon, it’s the best in the world. Sri Lankan coconut is the best in the world. Jack fruit is the best in the world. Tea is the best in the world. Who appreciates the best in the world products more than Europeans? Who has the refinement that Sri Lanka has which is only found in civilizations. The Europeans are ready to pay a premium for all these products. Perhaps the South Americans will pay a bit more for Sri Lankan cinnamon, but at the end of the day those who buy the most refined Sri Lankan products are mostly Europeans. We are not only a quantitative market but a qualitative market with a huge potential for the future. The best way for Sri Lanka is to increase its product-quality, and quality is where Europe will be there as a very happy customer.”
“But we are a very demanding market. We have a lot of barriers and those have to do with qualitative standards. In the future, I can imagine that Sri Lankans will want to sell directly to Europeans through online websites. When Sri Lanka exports to Europe, it is ready to export to anywhere else in the world because the European standards are high. We are a demanding market but we are happy to be a good market for Sri Lanka because Sri Lankan products are the best.”
“My second message is that markets and trade is not a one-way street. We have full consideration for the public finances situation in Sri Lanka We fully understand the measures that have been introduced to safeguard public finances and especially the foreign exchange reserves of Sri Lanka.”
“But we need three things. We need recognition notification in the horizon. We need recognition that there is an import ban. And sometimes we are told that there is no import ban but just impediment for the banks to pay in foreign currencies, but these payments are linked to products, so we have to recognize that they are trade restrictions. And then on that recognition, we can quantify that to the WTO and work together in the international organisation that is precisely set up to deal with this kind of issues.”
“I think Sri Lanka would benefit tremendously from giving a horizon to its businesses and potential investors as to until when the measures will be in place so that people can prepare and also can invest in Sri Lanka.”
“That is important if we want to attract foreign direct investments to Sri Lanka. We need to have certainty and we need to be able to export [raw materials].Who would invest in Sri Lanka not knowing if he or she will be able to export because they know that the trade restrictions may attract some reaction. So, in order to attract foreign direct investments, we have to give a horizon on the trade restrictions. We say this in full respect of whatever the Sri Lankan government decides.”
“My third point is; if you look at this project of EU-Sri Lanka Trade Related Assistance, it is in full respect of the government’s priorities. We don’t have an agenda. We are not a military super power. We are a standards super power, and a lifestyle superpower. We live very well in Europe and we live very well for many reasons. But when it comes to aid and support what we do is follow the priorities of the government. Before we take policy decisions and priorities we always look at the manifesto. I was at the Sri Lanka National Day events and its manifesto specifically dealt with agriculture. Agriculture is the sector that we have favoured in our last budget cycle. So from 2014 to 2020, we have invested more than half of the EU aid in the development of rural Sri Lanka. We have spent almost EUR 100 million in that sector. This shows that we are following priorities of the government and that’s why we are supporting this project so that we in Europe can enjoy more of the best Sri Lankan products and Sri Lankan exporters can create more added value by collaborating with Europeans.”
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
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