GL urges govt. to clarify stand on Middle East crisis

2026-03-03 - 08:08

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, in a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has underscored the serious implications for Sri Lanka arising from the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Writing on behalf of concerned citizens, Prof. Peiris stressed that the government should, without delay, clearly articulate to both the Sri Lankan public and the international community its position on the issues involved and its response to unfolding developments. He identified four key areas in which the crisis could directly affect Sri Lanka: I. Rising Oil Prices: Escalating global oil prices are likely to be reflected in the domestic market in the near future, significantly increasing the cost of living and worsening the economic hardships already faced by the public. II. Decline in Export Revenue: Export earnings—particularly from commodities such as tea—could decline due to difficulties in accessing key markets in regions impacted by active military conflict. III. Impact on Tourism: The hotel sector is reportedly facing a significant number of cancellations from prospective tourists from Europe, North America, and the Gulf region, largely due to disruptions and uncertainties surrounding air travel across affected areas. IV. Remittances at Risk: The crisis poses a threat to remittance inflows from Sri Lankan migrant workers employed across the Gulf and the broader Middle East region. “In handling these far-reaching repercussions, it is our firm resolve to offer the government whatever assistance we can in the broader national interest, in the face of a multi-faceted calamity,” Prof. Peiris stated. He further affirmed the commitment of concerned citizens to support the government in addressing the potential fallout from the crisis, noting that discussions are currently underway regarding practical measures to mitigate its effects. Prof. Peiris also announced that a public briefing will be held in the near future and urged the government to place essential information in the public domain regarding its approach to these critical issues, enabling informed public participation in the national response.