Infaaz Ahamed

Trump's tariffs expose long-standing weaknesses in Sri Lanka's exports. A few economist friends and I explain how how to fix them. Slash tariffs, sign FTAs, do the tough reforms and build export-infrastructure. We've done it before (1978 -2005), we can do it again. (1/2)

What’s a proportionate response?

#SriLanka voter can no longer have his/her cake & eat it. Shortly after govt announces salary increases for state employees, it announces VAT will increase to 18%. No more money printing. Money has to come from somewhere; it will come from all of us (not just income tax payers).

The ceasefire will come, delayed. By the time there is nothing much left of Gaza. Beyond hope, beyond ability to rebuild. An entire population broken. It will be made to seem like a victory for “good” & everyone will move on. With no accountability or justice for the oppressors

We have lost touch with our staff in Gaza, with health facilities, health workers and the rest of our humanitarian partners on the ground. This siege makes me gravely concerned for their safety and the immediate health risks of vulnerable patients. We urge immediate protection of all civilians and full humanitarian access.

🏎️You need not to hold a PhD in economics to understand that it is an incentive for corruption when you have an import ban & a permit system (including a highly deviated tariff system) It's common sense. Even parliamentarians are doing the same. Permits are permits for corruption

Message from Gaza . Please please stop

🔋🪫The more exemptions & more permits we issue the more we inceltivize corruption. This reiterates not only on the need in abolishing the vehicle permits system which discriminates Sri Lankan citizens but also the need for a simple tariff formula at Sri Lanka Customs 👮🚔

🏨Sadly as predicted now with price floors tourism has been affected. Price controls (ceilings or floors) won't work. The best help the government agencies could do to help the businesses is not doing anything and staying away from business intervention.

Price controls were imposed on egg hoppers in 2015. Then at one local shop, the shopkeeper asked to buy an egg separately & hand it over to the chef. Bill was done for a plain hopper & an egg separately. He is more sensible than policymakers.🍳 PRICE CONTROLS WON'T WORK.

There's a WhatsApp message going around that @David_Cameron, ex UK PM, spent 10 days in Sri Lanka as a private citizen with no security or fanfare and that no one but immigration recognized him. If true, then hey @FCDOtravelGovUK why have this: gov.uk/foreign-travel….

🇱🇰SL wants to strive for a thriving production economy!🏝️ but 94% of BOI zone lands in the Western province are already occupied. No new BOI lands in 15 years. How can we boost production? 🤔 Watch: youtu.be/5jrVK-q8Z5E Data: JB Securities

55% of our lodging inventory are establishments with less than 20 rooms(2018) Our cost of construction is higher than in the region due to the higher tariffs on construction materials. As a result, our room rates are comparatively higher including the SME tourism sector 1/2

Long queues at check-in counters in Katunayake International Airport, #Colombo. People have been waiting for hours. "This is the slowest airport I've ever seen," a German tourist in the queue tells me. @fernandoharin @PMDNewsGov #SriLanka #Travel #tourism

Watch the full video by @nayanaSL youtube.com/watch?v=2H1kOW…

🚦Sri Lankan middle class resides in the range of Kadawatha, Kaduwela, Malambe, Maharagama & Mount takes a minimum of 3 hours a day to commute to Colombo & back 3 Hrs*22 days = 66 hrs a month 66Hrs*12= 792 hrs = 33days 1 entire month of the year we have been jailed in a vehicle

Some said by controlling imports we can make local industries competitive globally. Till last week most of the imports were completely banned. Did any industries become competitive? We are a much closer economy than in 1977. Rough seas make stronger sailors

🇱🇰 implemented a series of import control measures during the economic crisis. The effectiveness & implications of these regulations have raised questions. Explore the impact of these import controls and gain insights into the political preferences behind these measures. 1/2

People often forget the situation the current @CBSL leadership took over. What they have achieved in the last year is nothing short of miraculous! We may criticize them at home, but the job they have done will be studied in econ classes around the world for many years to come.

A man that truly deserves respect. Goes about his job quietly and efficiently. A lot more to do, but he is going in the right direction. The saying; "Empty vessels make the most noise", holds dearly true when you compare Governor Nandalal with the previous Governor we had.