Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met with a delegation from the United States House Democracy Partnership (HDP) at Parliament today (27), with U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung also in attendance.
Premadasa highlighted the critical role of the United States in Sri Lanka’s economy, pointing out that nearly 24 percent of the country’s total exports are destined for the U.S. He noted that about 63 percent of Sri Lanka’s apparel exports are shipped to the U.S., generating 400,000 direct jobs and sustaining the livelihoods of more than one million people.
The Opposition Leader stressed that Sri Lanka’s industries and supply chains are deeply dependent on continued access to the American market. While welcoming recent tariff cuts—such as the reduction of rates from 44 percent to 30 percent and 30 percent to 20 percent—Premadasa urged that **further tariff relief is essential if Sri Lanka is to overcome its ongoing financial crisis.
He also called for stronger cooperation between the two countries in areas such as politics, trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges, while underlining their shared values of democracy, freedom of thought, freedom of association, religious liberty, and respect for diversity.
The U.S. delegation included Derek Luyten, Executive Director of the House Democracy Partnership; Chase Babeyar, Majority Staff Lead, HDP; Colby Harriman, Minority Staff Lead, HDP; Eric Ashida, Professional Staff Member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (Minority); Anthony V. Pierno, Political/Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy; Adam Michelo, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy; and Nazreen Marikkar of the U.S. Embassy.
