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Sri Lanka

SLSFTA’s effective date should be delayed: Bandula
12-Dec-2018 Daily Mirror
The effective date of the Sri Lanka – Singapore Free Trade Agreement should be postponed to ensure the removal of any detrimental clauses.
Pakistan wants to revisit 2005 FTA with Sri Lanka
29-Nov-2018 Colombo Gazette
Pakistan has said it wants to revisit the Free Trade Agreement signed with Sri Lanka in 2005.
No FTAs before LDC graduation
30-Oct-2018 Daily Star
Bangladesh will graduate from the least-developed country bracket in 2024, three years after which free trade agreements will be crucial in maintaining its comparative advantage in international trade.
Petition against Singapore FTA postponed to next year
4-Oct-2018 Adaderana
The petition filed seeking a court order pronouncing that the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement is against the Constitution, will be taken up for consideration on January 09, the Supreme Court has decided.
Thailand sees shortcut to Belt and Road with Sri Lanka trade deal
20-Sep-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
Two nations to kick off bilateral FTA talks in Bangkok.
Joint feasibility study on FTA with Bangladesh
10-Sep-2018 Daily FT
Next round of negotiations on Thai FTA in two weeks. Joint feasibility study on FTA with Bangladesh to be implemented soon.
Singapore FTA – Other than garbage
3-Sep-2018 The Island
The rationality behind the Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA is still undiscovered.
Sri Lanka to review Singapore FTA annually
29-Aug-2018 Economy Next
A Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement with Singapore can be reviewed annually, and the government will set up an independent commission to do so, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said as activists and opposition politicians protest fearing that the deal may lower prices to consumers and give less easy profits to businessmen.
Expert Committee appointed to review Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA calls for public opinions
25-Aug-2018 Colombo Page
The Expert Committee appointed by the President Maithripala Sirisena to study the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement has decided to gather views from organizations and the public.
“Malik does not know the basics of the Singapore FTA” – Association of IT Professionals
3-Aug-2018 Newsfirst
The Association of IT Professionals convened a press briefing in Colombo regarding the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in which they stated it appears Member of Parliament Malik Samarawikrama is not versed on the agreement and that they themselves showed the Minister the clause regarding manpower.
Malaysia calls for Sri Lanka FTA
31-Jul-2018 Daily Mirror
Malaysia has expressed its strong interest in moving forward on the free trade agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka that was initially contemplated in 2013, a communiqué from Sri Lanka’s Industry and Commerce Ministry said yesterday.
China unresponsive over FTA talks with Sri Lanka
19-Jul-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
Beijing possibly hoping for a return to power of the Rajapaksa clan.
Sri Lanka to begin FTA talks, strategic economic partnership as Thailand PM visits
10-Jul-2018 Economy Next
Sri Lanka is expecting to ink a deal on a strategic economic partnership with Thailand on July 12, including initial talks on a free trade agreement.
The need to rethink free trade agreements
26-Jun-2018 The Island
Sri Lankan public has not heard of most of the FTAs that the country has entered into, let alone the harm or benefit they might get.
Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA challenged in Supreme Court
18-Jun-2018 Daily Mirror
President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardane impugned before the Supreme Court that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Sri Lanka has entered into with Singapore is inimical to the interests of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka–Singapore FTA: An agreement between a giant and a child
14-Jun-2018 Daily Mirror
The trade deal between Singapore and Sri Lanka is not seen that of ’equals’ to create economic relations. The difference is not pertaining to their respective economic powers but their legal and regulatory frameworks.
China- Sri Lanka FTA talks not stalled: Secretary
12-Jun-2018 Sunday Observer
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
8-Jun-2018 Daily Mirror
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
6-Jun-2018 Daily Mirror
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
4-Jun-2018 News First
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.