Ranil would have negotiated tariff reduction with Elon Musk: Rajitha
Posted on April 9th, 2025
CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Colombo, April 9 (Daily Mirror) – Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne claimed that if someone like President Ranil Wickremesinghe were currently in government, he would have directly engaged with Elon Musk, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President, to negotiate a reduction of the 44% tariff imposed on Sri Lankan goods.
Addressing the media, Senaratne said that U.S. President Donald Trump operated under the influence of Elon Musk, who he claimed was the person proposing tariff rates to the President.
“Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only Sri Lankan who has had a cup of tea with Elon Musk and the only person to invite him to bring the Starlink satellite internet service to Sri Lanka,” he said.
He further said that Musk’s provision of Starlink internet in Sri Lanka wouldn’t earn him any significant profit. “The revenue from Starlink isn’t even enough for Elon Musk’s pocket money. Yet, he agreed to provide it out of friendship with Ranil Wickremesinghe,” Senaratne added.
Although the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) had approved Starlink, the government was toppled before the project could move forward. At the time, NPP Economic Council member Sunil Handunnetti referred to Elon Musk as an “economic hitman.”
Senaratne also noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi successfully negotiated a tariff reduction to 27% after speaking with the U.S. President. Similarly, the Presidents of Cambodia and Vietnam held direct phone conversations with the U.S. President.