Trump govt. may want Sri Lanka to increase imports – Chung

FM Herath visiting Washington now may be wishful thinking?

Democratic People’s Front and Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan, MP, said that new Trump administration may expect Sri Lanka to increase imports from the US and US cotton fabric raw material could be one such possible import.

MP Ganesan said so after meeting US Ambassador Julie Chung on Tuesday (25). Ganesan represents the main Opposition SJB in the current Parliament.

Claiming that he had a productive meeting with Ambassador Chung, Ganesan said that the US accounted for 23% of Sri Lanka’s annual exports, valued at $16 bn but Sri Lanka only imported $370 M worth of goods from the US.

The MP said that they were told that the Trump administration might expect Sri Lanka to increase imports from the US in order to reduce the trade imbalance. “We were also informed that US cotton fabric raw material for the Lankan apparel industry is one such possible import that could be increased.”

According to MP Ganesan the post-Aragalaya economic rebuilding process, the reconciliation, and the aspirations of marginalised upcountry Tamil community were discussed. The former Minister also said that they were told there was no basis for reports of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath visiting the US soon.