Category: Breaking News

The higher trade tariffs imposed by the United States on Sri Lanka can put a significant number of jobs in the country’s apparel industry at risk in the near future,

warns Professor Wasantha Athukorala from the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Peradeniya.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of reciprocal tariffs, imposing a baseline 10% tax on all imports and significantly higher rates on dozens of countries with which the US runs trade deficits.

As a result, Sri Lanka now faces the 6th highest tariff rates in the world—44%, a sharp increase from the previous 12.2% tariff rate.

Currently, 25% of Sri Lanka’s total exports—primarily apparel—are destined for the US. Reports indicate that Sri Lanka’s export earnings from the US amounted to USD 3 billion in 2024, with USD 346 million earned in January 2025 alone.

However, Prof. Athukorala warns that these high tariffs could severely impact Sri Lanka’s exports, particularly the apparel industry, as the US remains a key market for the country’s textiles.

He cautioned that export income could decline significantly, posing a serious threat to employment in the sector.

Furthermore, he stressed that if Sri Lanka’s exports take a hit, a large number of workers in the apparel industry could lose their jobs in the near future.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka. Opposition parties of AIADMK and the BJP also supported the motion.

The resolution emphasised the challenges faced by Tamil Nadu’s fishermen due to ongoing arrests and seizures by the Sri Lankan Navy. Chief Minister MK Stalin led the discussion on the House floor, insisting that the only permanent solution was the retrieval of Katchatheevu and emphasised the ongoing plight of Tamil Nadu fishermen.

He urged the Union Government to amend the agreement with Sri Lanka and called on the Prime Minister, who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka, to discuss the issue with its leaders. “This House unanimously urges the Union Government to take all steps to retrieve Katchatheevu and secure the release of our fishermen,” Stalin declared.

“The Union government seems to forget that Tamil Nadu fishermen are Indian fishermen as well,” he said, pointing out that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 assurance that fishermen would not come under attack, they continued to face arrests and the seizure of their boats.

“In 2024 alone, over 500 fishermen have been arrested—that is two per day. The External Affairs Minister himself admitted in March that 97 fishermen are still in Sri Lankan prisons. This must stop,” Stalin said while presenting the resolution.

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan supported the resolution but questioned why the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had not taken action when it was in power at the Centre.

“We believe that only PM Modi can retrieve Katchatheevu,” she stated, while also pointing out, “But why didn’t the DMK raise this issue when they were in power at the Centre for decades?”

She referenced an RTI reply stating that Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister–Stalin’s father M Karunanidhi–at the time was aware of the island’s transfer and was expected to “keep reactions low-key.”

Stalin, however, rejected claims that the DMK had consented to giving away the island in 1974, stating, “DMK then opposed the decision and even convened an all-party meeting against it.”

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has, in its this year’s (2025) annual report,

recommended that the US State Department lists Sri Lanka on a ‘Special Watch List’ based on religious freedom-related conditions recorded last year (in 2024), which include allegedly engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom (pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act).

The report, issued last week, further recommended to the US Congress to raise ongoing religious freedom issues through the Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka, foreign affairs committee hearings, resolutions, letters, and congressional delegations to Sri Lanka. Another recommendation was to prioritise meetings with the Department of Archaeology and the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs during congressional delegations, and specifically raise concerns over their expropriation of shared or disputed religious sites.

“Incorporate religious freedom concerns into the US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue, including the need to repeal or significantly reform the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended to require a higher threshold of evidence for charges, a definition of ‘terrorism’ that complies with international standards, and safeguards against abuses of religious freedom,” it was further recommended to the US Government.

“In Sri Lanka, Hindu and Buddhist nationalist groups targeted Muslims throughout the year with threats, intimidation, and coercion,” the report claimed.

Among the other countries that were recommended to be included in a Special Watch List along with Sri Lanka were Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Syria, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

(Sumudu Chamara – The Morning)

The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) Government’s main constituent party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) involvement in the killings during the 1988-1989 insurrection is likely to be discussed during the Parliamentary debate on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Establishment and Maintenance of Places of Unlawful Detention and Torture Chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme.

The CoI report has considered the alleged youth killings at the Batalanda housing scheme by the Government of that period.

The CoI Report is set to be taken up for Parliamentary debate from 10 April. In light of this, several parties, particularly government critics, including Opposition political parties, are questioning whether the Government will also take steps to serve justice to those killed by JVP members during the same period.

When questioned by The Daily Morning as to whether the NPP would also push for a mechanism to serve justice for the killings attributed to the JVP, General Secretary of the NPP Parliamentarian Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said: “We have not discussed this yet. The matter will be debated in the Parliament on 10 April, and during the debate, what we are going to do will come up.”

The 1988–1989 insurrection in Sri Lanka was a violent uprising led by the JVP against the then Government. It was alleged to be driven by growing dissatisfaction with economic hardships, political instability, and the Indo-Lanka Accord, which allowed Indian Peacekeeping Forces into the country. It was reported that the JVP launched armed attacks, assassinations, and strikes to destabilise the Government, while the State also responded with countermeasures, including the alleged operation of unofficial torture chambers in the Batalanda housing scheme. It is believed that an unofficial detention and torture centre operated there, targeting suspected members of the JVP during the Government’s crackdown on the insurgency.

The CoI report on it, which was prepared during the tenure of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, was recently tabled in the Parliament by the NPP Government, and is to be taken up for a two-day debate from 10 April.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Bungo and Erajima arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit today.

The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.

The 141m long JMSDF Bungo is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander Tanaka Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.

Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-metre-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.

During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 April.

The Court of Appeal today directed the relevant Returning Officers to suspend the election activities until tomorrow (02), in relation to Local Government institutions where political parties and independent groups have filed petitions challenging the rejection of nomination papers.

This order applies only to Local Government institutions where the rejection of nominations has been challenged in court.

After considering several petitions, the Court of Appeal bench, comprising Justice (Acting President) M.T. Mohammed Laffar and Justice K.P. Fernando, issued this order and it will be effective until tomorrow (02).

Several political parties and independent groups had filed writ applications before the Court of Appeal, challenging the rejection of their nominations to several Local Hovernment institutions.