News Today: All party leaders meet President Anura to address US tariff fallout

In a significant political development, all party leaders convened yesterday for a high-level meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss the growing concerns over the impact of US reciprocal tariffs on the Sri Lankan economy. The meeting addressed key challenges and discussed strategic pathways to mitigate economic risks while strengthening international trade ties.

The President briefed the attendees on the findings from the committee tasked with studying the implications of the newly introduced US tariff system. The committee, appointed to conduct a thorough analysis, presented a report highlighting the major concerns and recommending practical steps for minimizing economic fallout. The meeting also focused on Sri Lanka’s urgent need to diversify its export markets to reduce dependency on any single country and build resilience.

Opposition parties shared their insights and suggestions, making the meeting a comprehensive dialogue. MP Dr. Harsha De Silva of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) called the discussion with President Dissanayake a success, noting:
“Meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Trump Tariff successful. Common agreement that while we do everything to strengthen trade with world, immediate issue is to arrive at a HS Code-based bilateral trade deal with US. Two channels opened. We will support,” he stated.

Key attendees included Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, MPs from the SJB, TNA, NDF, SLPP, TPA, SLMC, ACMC, Sarvajana Balaya, UNP, SLFP, and several independent groups.