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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


China- Sri Lanka FTA talks not stalled: Secretary
Secretary to the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, Chandani Wijewardana last week refuted reports that discussions between Sri Lanka and China on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) had come to a standstill.
Govt. to review FTA with China : Malik
The Sri Lankan government will hold ministerial level talks with China to review and iron out contentious issues in the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said.
Singapore FTA: JO challenges Malik to a debate
The joint opposition today challenged Minister Malik Samarawickrama to a debate on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore and urged President Maithripala Sirisena to suspend the FTA.
China – Sri Lanka FTA talks stalled
Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit a major hurdle as Beijing has rejected Colombo’s demand for a review of the deal after 10 years.
China’s free trade talks with Sri Lanka hit major hurdles
alks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo’s demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka’s top negotiator said.
Mahendran played key role in signing FTA: Dayasiri
SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged today that former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who was in Singapore, had played the key role in signing the Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Singapore.
“FTA violates President’s program for food production” – Aruna Kantha Bandara
The Sri Lanka Singapore Free Trade Agreement has raised serious concern among many industries.
Doctors to go on strike tomorrow against FTA with Singapore
Government doctors are to stage a token strike tomorrow against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Singapore.
Sri Lanka FTAs: stupidity or treachery?
The President of Sri Lanka expressed that his government will safeguard the local industrialists. In several occasions, he has mentioned that the government does not want to go for trade agreements that are deleterious to the country’s economy. However, in January this year, the president was seated in the high chair clapping when the bilateral trade agreement with Singapore is signed, which liberalized the country’s service sector effectively for the first time.
Govt. responds to Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA detractors
In response to concerns raised by some professional associations last week concerning the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA), the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry in a detailed response said the movement of natural persons from Singapore has not been opened except for intra-corporate transferees in senior management and business visitors linked to investments.