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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has preferential and free trade agreements with India, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Singapore and Israel. It is currently in the processing of upgrading its agreement with India to a much more comprehensive one.

Sri Lanka is also party to SAFTA, the agreement on a South Asia Free Trade Area, as well as BIMSTEC, which aims to hammer out a regional FTA.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Sri Lankan engineers’ association


SL-China FTA to allow skilled workers here
A storm is brewing over renewed negotiation of the proposed Indo-Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw the ball in the Sri Lankan court saying India was interested in finalising this agreement.
Sri Lanka, Japan to link FTA this year
Sri Lanka and Japan plan to formulate and sign a Free Trade Agreement in 2015, the Sri Lanka-Japan Business Co-operation Committee has announced.
India denies pushing SL to sign CEPA
The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka last week denied reports that the country was pushing Sri Lanka to revive the much discussed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) solely due to the former’s interest.
PM Modi ’persuasion’ leads Sri Lanka to rethink CEPA
In a surprise move, the new Sri Lankan government is bringing back the long-pending CEPA with India to the negotiating table after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "gentle persuasion".
India pushes for Comprehensive Economic Partnership with Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured Sri Lanka that it will take steps to address the concerns arising out of the two-way merchandise trade between both neighbours even as he pitched for having a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Sri Lanka President says he dodged CEPA talks in Delhi
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he deliberately avoided having Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India on the agenda during his recent visit to New Delhi.
Sri Lanka completes feasibility studies for trade agreement with Bangladesh
Sri Lanka says a free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could boost current levels of bilateral trade by seven-fold and such a FTA is in the works.
China-Sri Lanka FTA to be signed in June 2015
The proposed free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and China is to be signed in June 2015, and not end 2014, Sri Lankan government officials have said.
US, Sri Lanka sign trade and investment agreement to boost bilateral trade
Sri Lanka and the United States inked a joint trade and investment agreement on Wednesday in Colombo.
Pakistan sore at Indian auto invasion in Lanka
The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has urged the Pakistan government to put automobiles and auto parts in the negative list of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka to safeguard Pakistani manufacturers against the entry of cheaper Indian products manufactured in Lanka.