Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP), MP Ravi Karunanayake, has warned that Sri Lanka cannot shield itself from foreign influence without a strong economy.
Speaking to the media, Karunanayake said India has been able to resist U.S. tax-related pressure because of its economic strength. He noted that despite U.S. objections, India continues to import fuel from Russia, backed by global trust in its economic stability.
In contrast, he stressed that Sri Lanka lacks the capacity to engage in such profitable but sensitive transactions. “If Sri Lanka attempts this, we risk even losing the income we generate from tea exports,” he cautioned.
