“We have not seen the intent and commitment on the part of the government to fire all guns in order to grow exports” says Chrisso De Mel

July, 30, 2019

The Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) urged all government institutions to execute and fulfill all possible trade facilitation initiatives paving way to create ease of doing business and moving forward towards a national single window.

Addressing the 22nd annual meeting of the Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka, Chrisso De Mel, the newly elected chairman of the EASL, also made the following remarks.

“We the Exporters’ Association in the recent past has done and exhaustive study identifying key areas for improvement and action and published two valuable strategy documents that have been handed over to the ministry of finance and other key government institutions, though some of our proposals have been well received and even though some proposals have been well received and even incorporated to the national budget, we must say that we are disappointed that the proper implementation of the same has not been done, leaving us stranded in our blocks and not helped us to move forward.”

“We have not seen the intent and commitment on the part of the government to fire all guns in order to grow exports. With the exceptions of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, ministry of Ports and Shipping and, since of late, the Ministry of Science and Technology,” he added

De Mel further insisted that the trade cannot afford to entertain sudden changes in procedures and processes without proper planning and dialogue and without explaining reasons for the same, as done in many occasions in the recent past

“Arbitrary increases of charges due to ad hoc procedural changes cannot be afforded without proper value addition to the supply chain. These measures will only make Sri Lanka uncompetitive, he added.

De Mel also raised concern that a new procedure to be implemented with scanning of cargo will cost the trade additionally for exports and imports brought in for export.

“While we are fully in support of the introduction of scanners and other modern, intelligent security devices, we are of the opinion that the trade should not be taxed or burdened, “De Mel noted.

“We already have sour experiences in the past where several levies have been imposed under the guise of development and international marketing but have eventually been used for entertainment or a totally different purpose from what it was meant to be. Sri Lanka must be mindful and be sensitive to capture the transactional cost when pitching in with other efficient origins.”he added.