Srilanka, May 16 -- Following is based on an interview conducted with Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo.

As Sri Lanka navigates the delicate path of economic recovery, two mounting challenges have converged to expose deep-rooted vulnerabilities in its export economy: the appreciation of the rupee over the past two years and a fresh wave of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US. For a country where nearly a quarter of exports are US-bound, these developments carry serious implications-not just for revenue but for investment, competitiveness and long-term growth.

According to leading economist Prof. Abeyratne, these pressures should be seen less as external shocks and more as symptoms of...