Exporters urge authorities to step up in ushering political and economic stability

Sri Lanka’s export community called on the government to step up its efforts in bringing the much-needed stability to the country’s political system and economy, which is crumbling at a fast pace.

Voicing concerns on behalf of the export community, the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) urged the relevant authorities to pay attention to the voice of the common people and act accordingly. 

The recent upheaval by the public and seizing of the Presidents’ House and Temple Trees clearly indicates the weakness of ruling parties to address the detrimental issues crippling the country, it said in a statement to the media.

Pressure on both the president and prime minister has escalated, as the country’s socio-economic meltdown has led to acute shortages of essential items, medicine, fuel and domestic gas, to name a few, leaving people struggling to survive on a day-to-day basis. 

“Managing the shortage of foreign exchange within the shortest possible time and restoring the supply of goods and services has become the priority. The NCE strongly suggests that leaving aside all political indifference, the government must introduce prudential policies and if necessary, draw from industry best practices followed worldwide to uplift the crumbling economy,” the chamber said.

The NCE stressed that the country’s present situation must be controlled in order to obtain the projected support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and any other nations that are economically sound.  

While it is imperative for businesses to function with minimum impact, the supply of essential items, primarily fuel and domestic gas, needs to be stabilised. Most importantly, the government must ensure the entire system is resurrected, supported and strengthened within a short period of time to guarantee important functions are carried out without any interruptions, which include customs, ports and public transport, the NCE pointed out.

Furthermore, the chamber raised concerns about the much-anticipated IMF bailout being delayed, which would only further aggravate the ongoing crisis. 

“It is, therefore, the utmost duty of all political parties to arrest the situation and stabilise the country,” the NCE asserted.