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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


Sri Lanka-China FTA feasibility study completed
Sri Lanka and China have completed the joint feasibility study for establishing a free trade agreement between the two countries and will push ahead with signing it before the end of the year, a statement from the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
China, Sri Lanka could sign free trade pact in 2014
China and Sri Lanka could sign a free trade agreement by the end of the year, state news agency Xinhua cited Sri Lanka’s foreign minister as saying, a move that will help cement Colombo’s growing economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.
FTA with China next boost for Lankan apparel sector: JAAF
Efforts to drive the Sri Lankan apparel sector into a new growth phase may hinge on the success of the potential free trade agreement (FTA) in the offing with China, according to Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General Tuli Cooray.
Zero tariff for 10 categories of Indian imports
Despite the adverse impact on local industries, the Government has allowed tariff-free imports on ten categories of Indian goods, which had hitherto remained in the negative list under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, Daily Mirror learns.
Sri Lanka: Chinese FTA evokes mixed reactions
The proposed free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and China, which is slated to be inked this November ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, is a ‘wakeup call’ for the country’s exporters, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce says
We don’t need CEPA any longer: Basil Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka will not need the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India any longer, as both countries had moved on, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka business chamber wants CEPA and more trade agreements
Sri Lanka’s main business Chamber urges the government to fast track the signing of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with India and also sign more trade deals to avoid over-dependance on one country for exports.
Historic Indo-Lanka trade pact goes public for the first time
The first ever international Free Trade Agreement entered by Sri Lanka has boosted its exports to its partnering country by no less than 16 times-and overall trade volumes grew by eight fold.
Forget CEPA: Focus on Indo-Lanka FTA
Amidst continuing opposition from professionals and businessmen to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, the Sri Lankan government is now shifting gears to strengthening the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a top government official said.
Sri Lanka to be home to exclusive auto SEZ for Indian companies
The development assumes importance as Sri Lanka did not show positive response to India’s offer to expand FTA between two countries to Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement