The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) appreciates the proactive measures of the Government to overcome COVID -19. The Prime Minister explained in simple terms to the people, the measures that have been adopted. These have enabled the country to effectively contain the threat, states the Chamber. Other Counties including developed economies are in great difficulty having failed to do so. This is evident by the commendation of our country by the Head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Chamber endorses the gratitude of the Government, particularly regarding the services and sacrifices of the Health Authorities, the Forces, and the Police to tackle the common enemy. This in spite of the risks to their own health, and of their families. As stated by the Prime Minister, this is not the time for debate on rights and wrongs. Each and everyone of us irrespective of ethnic, and other differences, need to do our duty to overcome the crisis during these few critical days.
The impact of the Crisis on the economy of the country, and the lives of the people has been substantial. The Apparel Export Sector, and Tourism which are main Foreign Exchange Earners have suffered a severe blow. This excludes the other major Foreign Exchange Earner, the remittances of our workers, who have been battered due to conditions in other countries. As such the Chamber agrees with the view that we need to produce whatever possible locally in the immediate future because imports will be seriously hampered.
This particularly applies to food products, medicines, and other needs of the health care services.
The Prime Minster in his address requested the people to grow their fruits and vegetable requirements as far as possible in their home plots. The NCE wishers to support this move and would like to encourage local growers to supply any excess of agricultural items they could produce to Member exporters of the NCE, who could be requested to purchase such produces for direct exports as well as for processing to ensure value addition.
For this to happen production activities need to be commenced, to revive the economy without delay, following the lead given by China. The Chamber trusts this will be ensured during the coming days, to resurrect and strengthen the battered lives of the majority of our people
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