The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake
Hon. Ravi Karunanayake urged the Government to pursue trade agreements and market-access opportunities, particularly with the US and UK, to retain employment and attract investors to Sri Lanka. He called for tax incentives, removal of para-tariffs, and duty-free measures to complement UK market access, while also safeguarding GSP negotiations and ensuring workers benefit from increased investment.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, my second supplementary:
¶ 02 Many of our people are overseas. We must thank the visiting British Delegation and their Government for extending market access and duty-free facilities to Sri Lanka. While India is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the US, why cannot Sri Lanka also seek such agreements to retain employment at home? With more investors like Marks & Spencer and NEXT set to come owing to UK market access, we should provide investment facilities and tax incentives. Tell the IMF to step aside where needed—if the UK gives market access, we must give corresponding tax incentives to attract investment here. Also, on GSP currently up for negotiation, ensure we do not lose out. At the moment, we do not know what President Donald Trump will do. Please intervene promptly—make it zero-tax our side now, do not wait till others finish negotiations. Our US market access is USD 3.1 billion; theirs is USD 300 million. Announce duty-free from tomorrow, at least remove para-tariffs, and ensure our workers receive their due.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 22 July 2025 ·No. 1753443916033328 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 July 2025. No. 1753443916033328. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/13603