In the face of rising tariffs from the United States, Sri Lanka is quietly pivoting its export strategy, preparing to shift its gaze toward untapped markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the European Union. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Export Development Board (EDB), believes the nation’s economic challenge may, in fact, be an opportunity in disguise.
While the island nation stands excluded from a list of 28 countries expected to receive US tariff exemptions, Wijesinghe insists the setback is not the end of the road. “There’s massive demand for Sri Lankan products beyond the US. The plan is to absorb the losses by securing ground in other emerging and established markets,” he said.
But this isn’t just rhetoric. According to the Chairman, the EDB has already submitted detailed proposals to the Sri Lankan government, urging it to fast-track free trade agreements with key nations across multiple regions. Specific attention, he notes, has been paid to negotiating tariff concessions as part of these agreements, with a targeted rollout in the months of April and May.
“We’re not just patching a hole. We’re looking to strategically realign,” Wijesinghe explained. “This moment is a reset. The global market is shifting, and Sri Lanka can capitalize on new demand patterns—if we act quickly.”
The strategy involves identifying product-specific global demand and aligning Sri Lankan exports accordingly. Among the key recommendations: targeting the European Union for high-value goods and tapping into new sectors where the country has long been underperforming.
And the numbers are revealing.
Take the UK, a nearly $1 trillion market. “We’re only exporting $1 billion to them,” Wijesinghe points out. “That’s a drop in the ocean.”
Then there’s organic food—a $140 billion global market. “Sri Lanka earns just $500 million from it,” he says. “But we have the raw ingredients: paddy fields, arable land, labor. If we focus on value-added organic exports, the potential is enormous.”
What emerges is a narrative of transformation—one that leans into adversity to drive long-overdue reforms in trade diversification and production strategy. While many see the US tariffs as a blow, Wijesinghe sees a crack in the wall—and a window waiting to be opened.
“In a world where old trade alliances are being tested, we must become agile. We must enter new agreements, build new bridges, and make sure Sri Lankan products don’t just survive—but thrive,” he said.
As the world shifts, Sri Lanka is being called to move with it—or risk being left behind. The roadmap, according to the Export Chairman, is already drawn. All that remains is the political will to follow it.
