Bingumal Thewarathanthri

Views expressed here are my own

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

India–Sri Lanka trade has now surpassed USD 6 billion, with Sri Lankan exports to India crossing the USD 1 billion mark, reflecting the growing depth and balance of economic engagement between the two countries.

Speaking from the India–Sri Lanka Business Forum in Mumbai, Vice Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber Bingumal Thewarathanthri highlights the significant opportunities emerging from South–South trade growth and Sri Lanka’s strategic positioning within the region.

Through engagements such as this, the Ceylon Chamber continues to position Sri Lanka before influential regional business leaders and investors while strengthening cross-border partnerships and opportunities.

#ceylonchamber @thewarathanthri @IndiainSL
@SLinIndia @MFA_SriLanka @MEAIndia @DoC_GoI

[Bingumal Thewarathanthri @thewarathanthri]

@NewsWireLK No morality. All time low.

[Bingumal Thewarathanthri @thewarathanthri]

@SprinterPress @grok is this true

[Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ @shanaka86]

A bankrupt island nation of 22 million people just taught every great power on Earth a lesson in leverage.

Sri Lanka’s President Dissanayake stood before cameras on 6 March and said: “We are neutral but also humanitarian. Sri Lanka is a free and non-aligned nation. We do not favour any country. We treat every human being equally, whether Iranian, American, or Israeli. We jealously guard our non-aligned policy while ensuring that humanitarian values and the saving of lives remain our top priority.”

Then he granted free one-month humanitarian visas to all 236 Iranian sailors, the 32 survivors pulled from the wreckage of the IRIS Dena and 204 crew evacuated from the disabled IRIS Bushehr. He described sheltering them as “the most courageous and humanitarian course of action a state can take.”

The United States, which sank the Dena using USS Charlotte (SSN-766), a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine firing Mk 48 heavyweight torpedoes 19 to 44 nautical miles off Galle, is pressuring Colombo through a State Department cable to retain the sailors under conditions favourable to American intelligence access. Washington wants the 32 survivors who witnessed classified US submarine engagement tactics.

China, which holds Hambantota port under a 99-year lease 90 kilometres from the sinking site, says nothing publicly. The debt speaks for itself.

India, which hosted the Dena at its MILAN 2026 exercise weeks before the ship was sunk by India’s closest strategic partner, has not uttered a single word about any of it.

Iran is broadcasting the rescue footage across every state media channel. Eighty-seven dead sailors and a neutral nation that refused American demands.

And Sri Lanka, sovereign-defaulted in 2022, currently under IMF conditionality, owing billions to Beijing through Belt and Road, dependent on Indian goodwill for regional security, and sitting at the intersection of every great-power pressure line in the Indian Ocean, chose international law.

UNCLOS Article 98 required the rescue. Geneva Convention II Article 17 required the internment. Hague Convention XIII prohibited allowing the sailors to re-enter combat. Sri Lanka followed every obligation to the letter. Uruguay did the same during the Falklands. Switzerland did the same throughout World War II. The law is unambiguous. The politics are not.

This is the same Sri Lanka that founded the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961. That hosted the fifth NAM summit in 1976. That proposed the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace in 1971 and got the UN to adopt it. And that is now pursuing BRICS partner status under India’s 2026 chairmanship, with Prime Minister Amarasuriya calling membership “strategically appealing” on 6 March, the same week her government was sheltering Iranian sailors against American objections.

Every major power assumed Sri Lanka would fold. Washington assumed economic leverage would force compliance. Beijing assumed debt would ensure silence. Delhi assumed proximity would guarantee deference. Tehran assumed sympathy would guarantee solidarity.

Instead, Colombo followed the law, issued the visas, sheltered the sailors, and told every great power exactly the same thing: we are neutral, we are humanitarian, and we do not take sides.

The weakest economy in the Indian Ocean just demonstrated the strongest foreign policy.

Full analysis for paid subscribers.

https://t.co/eMrt5qYYst

[Bingumal Thewarathanthri @thewarathanthri]

@GP_Presss @grok is this true?

[NewsWire 🇱🇰 @NewsWireLK]

Bizwire: The outlook was discussed today at a media conference following the Bank’s annual Global Research Briefing for Corporate clients, where Standard Chartered’s Global Researchers and Economists assessed Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic prospects against an increasingly uncertain global backdrop.

Speaking to the media the Researchers forecast GDP growth of 3.5% in 2026, following an estimated 4.5% expansion in 2025, as the economy transitions from a post-crisis rebound toward more sustainable growth. Consumption is expected to remain resilient, supported by low inflation, steady remittance inflows and lower interest rates, while tourism and investment activity continue to recover.

D: https://t.co/vpe4mHCvlv

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

Bingumal Thewarathanthri sat down with PM Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2025. They discussed recovery after Cyclone Ditwah, revisiting medium- to long-term economic plans, and refocusing key sectors. Education was flagged as vital for sustainable growth.

The PM also urged visitors to keep Sri Lanka on their travel plans. While some areas were hit hard, the rest of the island is ready to welcome travellers- helping the sector stay resilient.

@thewarathanthri @Dr_HariniA #ceylonchamber

https://t.co/q1clykM9PI

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

Policy stability sets the stage - but execution will define success. The Ceylon Chamber welcomes the 2026 Budget’s consistency and reform focus, urging faster implementation to turn stability into sustained growth.

Read the full article through the link : https://t.co/YKdyFum8Es

#ceylonchamber #Budget2026

[NewsWire 🇱🇰 @NewsWireLK]

18 Ceylon Chamber proposals incorporated to Budget 2026 https://t.co/y3cSLTQWJ0

[Bingumal Thewarathanthri @thewarathanthri]

Credibility and policy consistency is key to sustainable growth. https://t.co/Tk0U7HHEU7

[Mahesha Samaratunge @MaheshaSamarat2]

Interesting. @thewarathanthri 👍👍

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

A thread 🧵

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce presented its priority proposals for #Budget2026 to H.E. the President today.
This was the first official meeting of the Chamber’s new Board, led by Chairperson Krishan Balendra.

@anuradisanayake #ceylonchamber

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

We were pleased to host U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Julie Chung, for discussions with our leadership on boosting trade, attracting investment, and unlocking tourism potential.

The conversation touched on the recent U.S. tariff reduction on Sri Lankan exports, the opportunities this creates for regional competitiveness, and the growing interest of U.S. companies in South Asia.

We also discussed how the Ceylon Chamber could, through increased engagement with the US Embassy, facilitate more opportunities for the private sector. These initiatives will include bilateral business delegations and also working with the Government to enhance the ease of doing business.

@USAmbSL
@USEmbSL
#ceylonchamber #lka

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

How can Sri Lanka build a future-ready economy?

Deputy Vice Chairman Vinod Hirdaramani shares why sustainable development and real-world policy advocacy matter now more than ever.

Legacy industries. Startups. One platform.

“The Ceylon Chamber is where experience meets innovation — and business meets impact.”

#ceylonchamber

[Tanvi Ratna @tanvi_ratna]

Trump’s 25% tariff on India exposes the Mar-a-Lago logic: U.S. market and military leverage traded for strategic alignment.

India’s ambiguity on Russia frustrates Trump. The BRICS won’t fold.

And the economic flashpoint with India isn’t oil or the dollar. It's beans. 🧵

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

Strategic. Credible. Country-first.

Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri on how the Ceylon Chamber drives policy impact - from Vision 2030 to 17 proposals in Budget 2025.

500+ members. 20+ councils. One powerful voice for business.

@thewarathanthri #CeylonChamber

[NewsWire 🇱🇰 @NewsWireLK]

UK opens market to Sri Lankan goods with relaxed trade rules "This is a win for the Sri Lankan garment sector, and for UK consumers"

[The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce @CeylonChamber]

Vice Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Bingumal Thewarathanthri shared some insights on the national economy at the 105th Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Motor Traders' Association.

✳️ Sri Lanka saw 5% GDP growth in 2024 and 4.8% in Q1 2025 - even before vehicle imports picked up. But with the #agriculture and #construction sectors still underperforming, broad-based recovery remains fragile.

✳️ The fiscal space is there. Now the government must deliver on development spending, essential for driving the next wave of growth. Interest rates are down and private sector credit growth is healthy, but the flow of finance must extend beyond top-tier corporates to truly revive the economy.

✳️ Vulnerability is high: 30% of the population is below the poverty line, 57% is at risk. Growth needs to be inclusive.

✳️ As the vehicle market opens, legitimate demand is rising, but nearly-new imports with huge price gaps are distorting the market. The Ceylon Chamber continues to push for trade reform, including a single window to resolve trade issues.

@thewarathanthri
#ceylonchamber #automobileindustry #NationalSingleWindow

[Bingumal Thewarathanthri @thewarathanthri]

@MarketNewsLK High time we offer 5-10 years multiple entry visa with a maximum stay of 3 - 6 months. Need some serious guidelines/fines for people who are overstaying.

[Bingumal Thewarathanthri @thewarathanthri]

@CBSL This is a good sign. Construction is the last industry to recover. Still there is a lot of room to improve. When cement demand picks up to a pre pandemic level we can celebrate.