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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to resume talks for bilateral trade deal this month
8-May-2023 Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh plan to hold an introductory meeting virtually on 29th of this month to commence negotiations for the proposed preferential trade agreement (PTA), which is expected to eventually lead to a free trade agreement (FTA).
Thailand eyes 3 deals by 2024
8-May-2023 Bangkok Post
Thailand wants to conclude free-trade agreement (FTA) talks with the European Free Trade Association (Efta), Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the middle of next year to improve trade and and investment.
China pushes Sri Lanka to sign FTA in guise of debt restructuring
12-Apr-2023 ANI
Critics argue that the deal would be heavily skewed in favour of China, leading to a flood of cheap Chinese goods into Sri Lanka and undermining the country’s domestic industries.
Fourth round of negotiations on proposed Sri Lanka-Thailand FTA held
29-Mar-2023 Adaderana
The fourth round of negotiations on the proposed Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) was held to increase Sri Lankan exports’ access to the Thai market and to reduce existing non-tariff barriers.
Sri Lanka to fast-track FTA with Thailand in bid to boost exports
24-Feb-2023 Economy Next
Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to fast-track a free trade agreement with Thailand in the hopes of increasing exports to the Asian nation.
Sri Lanka to fast-track FTA with Thailand in bid to boost exports
14-Feb-2023 Economynext
Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to fast-track a free trade agreement with Thailand in the hopes of increasing exports to the Asian nation, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.
Govt. resumes measures to operationalise FTA with Singapore
20-Jan-2023 Daily Mirror
The government has resumed measures to operationalise the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) that came into effect in May 2018 which covers goods, services, investment, intellectual properties, telecommunications, e-commerce, trade facilitation, government procurement, competition and economic and technical co-operation.
China-Sri Lanka FTA: Will it benefit Sri Lanka in the long run?
17-Jan-2023 Colombo Gazette
The Chinese Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng, and the Sri Lankan Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa, signed a memorandum on the launch of the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, officially announcing the launch of bilateral FTA negotiations.
Thai-Sri Lanka FTA talks to resume after 4 years
12-Jan-2023 Bangkok Post
Thailand will launch the second free trade area (FTA) negotiations with Sri Lanka, in a bid to strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries, according to the Department of Trade Negotiations.
Sri Lanka to restart trade deal talks with India, China and Thailand - official
5-Jan-2023 Reuters
Officials from Thailand are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday to start the third round of talks after negotiations were suspended in 2018, said K.J. Weerasinghe, Sri Lanka’s Chief Negotiator of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Sri Lanka to resume negotiations on stalled trade agreement with India
9-Dec-2022 The Hindu
Sri Lanka will soon resume talks with India on the stalled Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), authorities said, as Colombo looks to trade pacts and foreign direct investments to rebuild its crisis-hit economy.
Sri Lanka ‘in a hurry’ to resume China free-trade deal talks to get ‘back on the radar’ after recent unrest
3-Oct-2022 SCMP
Talks between Beijing and Colombo over a free-trade agreement that began in 2014 have resumed, according to Sri Lankan ambassador to China, Palitha Kohona.
Despite Chinese pressure, Sri Lanka wary of entering into free trade agreement
29-Sep-2022 ANI
The ongoing economic crisis and challenges of penetrating the Chinese market are making Sri Lanka cautious about concluding a Free Trade Agreement with China, despite pressure.
Sri Lanka looks to revive free trade deal with Singapore
28-Sep-2022 US News
Sri Lanka will step up efforts to revive a stalled free trade pact with Singapore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told the city state’s premier.
President meets Singapore PM, says ready to implement FTA
27-Sep-2022 News Wire
Sri Lanka is ready to implement the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.
Japan keen to ink FTA with Sri Lanka - Embassy official
26-Sep-2022 Sunday Observer
Japan is keen to ink a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka to increase bilateral trade between the two countries, said Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka Katsuki Kotaro.
Sri Lanka – India FTA to be revived; Intl Trade Office in Sri Lanka
16-Sep-2022 News First
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka – India Free Trade Agreement would be revived and upgraded into a comprehensive economic and technological partnership.
Sri Lanka, China free trade agreement negotiations at a standstill
20-Jul-2022 The Print
A senior government spokesperson of Sri Lanka said that there has been no positive response from China for the proposed debt restructuring programme despite taking steps to hasten the free trade agreement (FTA).
Indonesia-Sri Lanka trade Talks soon
27-Jun-2022 Sunday Observer
Negotiations on the Indonesia-Sri Lanka Preferential Trade Agreement (ISL-PTA) will begin soon as both countries see the enormous potential to boost bilateral trade, said Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, Dewi Gustina Tobing.
Prime Minister proposes immediately initiating bilateral discussions on an FTA with China
26-Apr-2022 Colombo Page
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has suggested to the Cabinet that bilateral talks with China on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) be resumed immediately.