Economic Warning: Impact of Middle East Crisis on Sri Lanka 📈

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to clarify the government's strategy regarding the escalating Middle East conflict, citing four critical risks to the national economy: • Energy & Cost of Living: Global oil price hikes are expected to filter into local markets shortly, potentially aggravating public economic hardship. • Export Revenue: Commodity exports, specifically tea, face potential declines due to disrupted access to key regional markets under military action. • Tourism Sector: Significant cancellations reported from Europe, North America, and the Gulf as regional air travel becomes increasingly volatile. • Remittances: The crisis threatens the stability of financial inflows from Sri Lankan migrant workers stationed across the Gulf and broader Middle East. The opposition has offered assistance in mitigating these "multi-faceted" repercussions and called for greater transparency on the government's contingency plans. _Note: Summary based on formal correspondence from Prof. G.L. Peiris (04 March 2026)._