Former Member of Parliament Dullas Alahapperuma has formally appealed to United States President Donald J. Trump to consider granting temporary tariff relief on Sri Lankan imports, citing the country’s urgent need for economic recovery following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
In a letter addressed to President Trump, Alahapperuma expressed deep appreciation for the United States’ swift humanitarian response to the disaster, including USD 2 million in emergency assistance and the deployment of US military airlift capabilities to deliver essential relief supplies. He described the support as “generous and timely,” noting that it had played a critical role in Sri Lanka’s ongoing relief operations.
Cyclone Ditwah, one of the most severe natural disasters in Sri Lanka’s recent history, has affected nearly 10 per cent of the population—more than two million people—through widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage across all districts. Alahapperuma emphasized that children have been disproportionately impacted, with UNICEF estimating that over half a million children are facing long-term risks such as displacement, loss of parents, disruption to education, and increased vulnerability.
Highlighting President Trump’s recent initiative to establish “Trump Accounts,” a program designed to provide seed funding for the financial security of American children from birth, Alahapperuma drew attention to what he described as a shared commitment to child welfare.
Against this backdrop, he requested that the US administration consider temporarily reducing tariffs on Sri Lankan imports to 12 per cent for a one-year period in 2026. According to Alahapperuma, such targeted trade relief would significantly strengthen Sri Lanka’s economic recovery by supporting export-driven industries, restoring livelihoods, and enabling the government to channel resources toward rebuilding infrastructure and essential services—particularly those benefiting children.
He noted that the estimated annual value of the proposed tariff reduction would exceed the value of a single tranche of International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding to Sri Lanka, underlining its potential impact on the country’s recovery efforts.
Alahapperuma made the appeal in his capacity as a former Minister of Education and a main candidate in Sri Lanka’s 2022 presidential election, stressing the long-term developmental importance of safeguarding children during times of crisis.
Concluding his letter, he described the proposed tariff relief as an act of solidarity that would offer renewed hope to Sri Lankan families, calling it a “perfect Christmas and New Year gift” to the children of Sri Lanka as the nation seeks to rebuild after the cyclone.
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