Sajith’s Tariff Tango: From Shade to Shine

Guess who’s doing a quiet victory lap this week? None other than Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa — the same guy who once took the government to task for not dealing proactively with what he called the Trump Tariff Tsunami.

Now, with the US cutting tariffs on Sri Lankan goods to 20%, Sajith is... glad. Very glad.

Why? Because this new rate puts Sri Lanka on the same level as Vietnam and Bangladesh — and ahead of India, which still faces a 25% tariff. It’s a rare moment of trade advantage, and Sajith isn’t wasting it.

But he’s not handing out thank-you notes to the government just yet. Instead, he’s setting the next target: a tariff rate under 15%, which he says is what’s really needed to give Sri Lankan exporters a meaningful lift.

His proposal? Build a team of serious trade economists and lead negotiators — professionals who can push consistently, strategically, and smartly. In his words, we need to stop relying on "luck" and start playing hardball.

In classic Sajith style, it’s both a backhanded compliment and a call to raise the game.