March, 4, 2022
The Joint Chambers of Commerce met on March 3rd, 2022 and deliberated on the on-going forex crisis in the country and its impact on business activity and the economy. Consequent to this meeting, 9 Chambers (whose logos are shown below the text) have agreed to unanimously release the following statement.
The on-going forex crisis has resulted in daily disruptions to the supply of fuel and electricity which are critical for the functioning of all sectors of the economy. There is also a significant shortage of raw material inputs needed for domestic and export production coupled with an inability to pay suppliers in a timely manner as highlighted in our Joint Chamber release dated 22nd December 2021. As a result, business activities are coming to a halt and the private sector is deeply concerned of the consequences this would have in terms of business continuity that could reverse some of the gains seen recently in tourism and export sectors. The consequences of the forex shortage are also impacting the public causing severe hardship on a daily basis while disrupting the livelihoods of SMEs and daily wage workers.
Joint Chambers demand that the Government:
The private sector, as represented by the Joint Chambers, is ready to support the Government in developing and implementing a program that would help Sri Lanka emerge out of this crisis and stage a strong post-pandemic recovery as envisioned by all stakeholders. We are willing to engage with the relevant authorities and policymakers to deliberate this further and take swift action.
Statement issued by the following Institutions:
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