Bleak times ahead if the Govt. does not get its act together soon

Business chambers warned this week that the ongoing political crisis crippling the nation's stability and the long term damage that would be caused to the export market would require years to recover if the current situation prevails any longer.

The biggest beneficiaries are India's southern states. Tamil Nadu's textile hub in Tirupur and tea estates in Assam are witnessing a surge in overseas orders as the export demand from global brands diverted away from

Sri Lanka.

An official from Tirupur Export Association commented that Sri Lanka's apparel industry even imports buttons and because of a shortage of forex, international orders are reaching them.

Kerala tourism authorities are trying to take advantage of the situation by attracting foreign tourists who were scheduled to visit Sri Lanka but are changing their travel plans due to political instability in the country.

A Sri Lankan apparel industry official said the sooner the Government gets its act together, the better to avoid further difficulties. "Or else we will be heading towards very bleak times," they said.