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Imports halt hobbles small business, IT workers, and builders
View(s):By Chrishsnthi Christopher
A group representing small and medium enterprises hit hard by the import suspension of about 305 items last week, have raised their concerns with the Government.
The Sri Lanka United Business Alliance (SLUBA), met President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday, August 1.
The SMEs included apparel, construction, shoes, hospitality, printing, computer accessories and several others.
Alliance president, Ms. Tania Abeysundera said imports of several items such as sewing machines, washing, bleaching and dyeing machines, and spare parts, have been suspended. Even machine needles, bobbins, electric irons, hangars, buttons, and other accessories are not allowed. “Without accessories how can our machines function,’’ she asked.
Pic by Akila Jayawardana
Apparel makers producing for the domestic market depend on imported raw materials and, “if the ban continues we will collapse,’’ she said. There would be a shortage of apparel, creating an underground trade.
Small income earners will be the most affected, with many not being able to afford to buy new clothing even during the festive season, she said.
The construction industry also met President Wickremesinghe on Tuesday.
Members of the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka have been badly affected by the suspension of Government projects including roads and school buildings. Following the meeting, a Gazette notice was issued on the same day to allow imports of certain raw materials to contractors whose projects are continuing.
Imports will be determined on a case by case basis by the Controller General of Imports and Exports.
Meanwhile, the ban on laptops and accessories and spare parts for computers has created a stir in the Information and Computer Technology industry.
An Export Development Board (EDB) report said the industry has contributed around US$1 billion (Rs360 billion) in 2020 and is expected to generate up to US$3 billion in 2025. The report also described the ICT industry as the most profitable in recent years with a workforce of 85,000 in value-added and highly paid jobs.
The sector exports software to North America, East Asia, Middle East and the Nordic countries. In addition, it acts as an off-shore development centre to over 500 companies from the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Australasia and Sweden providing around 200,000 direct and indirect jobs to locals.
Suspending imports of laptops, accessories and spare parts means depriving workers of tech tools.
The packaging industry is also badly affected because printing ink is suspended, an industrialist said.
Housewives are questioning the import suspension of handbags, school bags, school satchels, shoes, chocolates, nuts and dairy and several other food items.
“Do we have enough local products?’’ asked one mother who has two school-going children.
Even the youths are affected by the suspension on makeup, skin care, toiletries, perfume and men’s after shave lotions. Salon owners complained that without quality products for skin and hair care they face closure.
“First it was the Covid pandemic, then the fuel crisis, and now this. How are we to survive,’’ one indignant salon owner asked.
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