August 14, Colombo (LNW): High-level political discussions are reportedly in progress regarding the potential reappointment of Mahinda Samarasinghe, currently serving as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States, to a prominent position within the government.
Insiders suggest that Samarasinghe’s instrumental role in mitigating a major economic threat posed by punitive trade tariffs introduced by former US President Donald Trump has sparked renewed interest in bringing the seasoned diplomat and former minister back into the country’s political fold.
At the height of a trade dispute, the United States initially announced a hefty 44% tariff on Sri Lankan exports—a move that sent shockwaves through Colombo due to the potentially devastating impact on the island nation’s export-driven economy.
Through a series of complex negotiations involving Sri Lankan envoys in Washington, the proposed tariff was first reduced to 30% and eventually brought down to 20%, softening the economic blow significantly.
According to political sources familiar with the matter, Samarasinghe played a pivotal role in these negotiations, leveraging his diplomatic acumen and longstanding international relationships to secure a more favourable outcome for Sri Lanka.
Given his track record, serious consideration is reportedly being given to appointing Samarasinghe to Parliament via the national list, a move that would open the door to him assuming a key role within the current administration. Discussions remain ongoing, and it is understood that several senior figures within the government are backing the proposal.
Interestingly, reports also suggest that international intelligence agencies have taken note of these developments, closely observing the political manoeuvring around Samarasinghe’s possible re-entry into frontline politics—a sign of the broader geopolitical implications his return might hold.
