Friday Mar 20, 2026
Friday Mar 20, 2026
Friday, 20 March 2026 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
A high-level discussion on the economic fallout from the escalating conflict in the Middle East was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with a focus on safeguarding energy supplies and protecting the country’s export sector.
Officials examined the widening global energy crisis triggered by disruptions to international supply networks and assessed possible fuel market trends in the months ahead. Particular attention was paid to managing domestic fuel prices in a way that ensures uninterrupted energy supply, cushions the economy from external shocks, and preserves the economic gains recorded in 2025, while preventing a renewed contraction.
During the meeting, the President instructed officials to explore the feasibility of introducing targeted subsidy mechanisms to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs on the broader economy.
In a separate session with exporters, President Dissanayake said that the Government would treat the export sector as a national priority and take all necessary measures to help it navigate emerging challenges.
Discussions centred on difficulties faced by exporters, manufacturers, and service providers in securing reliable fuel supplies amid global uncertainty.
Stakeholders stressed the need to prioritise energy allocation for export-oriented industries to minimise disruption to production, logistics, and foreign exchange earnings.
Extensive deliberations were also held on proposals presented by industry representatives aimed at sustaining competitiveness and maintaining supply chain stability during the ongoing crisis.
Among those present were Labour Minister and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Economic Adviser to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, Brandix Group CEO Ashroff Omar, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Chairman Felix Fernando, Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products Director General Dr. Sisira Ranatunga, Sri Lanka Tea Exporters Association (TEA) Chairman Huzeifa Akbarally, and representatives from The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and other export, manufacturing, and logistics bodies.
