bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

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 negotiates more trade, investment deals
Sri Lanka is negotiating more free trade and investment deals with other countries to increase trade and foreign investment. Two rounds of talks were held in January with India and Pakistan on free trade and investment agreements while the first negotiations on an investment promotion and protection agreement with Kuwait was concluded on January 30. The Sri Lanka-Kuwait negotiations will be followed by negotiations on a Sri Lanka-Jordan Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
Sri Lanka stops pepper exports to India under free trade deal
Sri Lanka has stopped exporting pepper under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because of restrictions imposed by India, a top exporter has said.
Sri Lanka, India set to finalize bilateral trade agreement
India and Sri Lanka may finalise discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement this week
Sri Lanka should make better use of existing trade deals: experts
Trade analysts say that Sri Lanka should make the most of existing trade deals like the Bay of Bengal Initiative before negotiating more bilateral and multilateral agreements.
FTA with Pakistan likely to boost tea exports
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan said this week that the potential to expand trade between the two countries will be facilitated by the recently inked Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Sri Lanka enters into economic cooperation agreement with Israel
Sri Lanka last week entered into an economic cooperation agreement with Israel.
Sri Lanka-Nepal free trade deal could trigger trade, but also potential for opening services
A proposed free-trade deal between Nepal and Sri Lanka could boost trade but analysts say there is more potential for service liberalization.
‘Nepal keen on entering into FTA with Sri Lanka’
Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Pieris delivering the keynote address on “Exports and Future Government Plans” at the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka said Nepal is keen on entering into an FTA with Sri Lanka.
Colombo agrees to address FTA fears
In a major development, Colombo has agreed to work out a permanent solution to Islamabad’s fears over the import of auto parts under the Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. There are reports that India is going to invest in the auto sector in Sri Lanka under the India-Sri Lanka FTA. Islamabad fears that the auto parts to be made in Sri Lanka by India would be exported to Pakistan.
Investment agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia
The Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia came into force with effect from March 14 with the completion by the Australian authorities of its domestic procedures for the entry into force of the Agreement.