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  1. Negotiations

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

See also
Sri Lanka business chamber wants CEPA and more trade agreements
10-Jul-2013    
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
21-May-2013     Lanka Web
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
22-Sep-2012    
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
17-Sep-2012     Business Standard
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
Sri Lanka not keen on CEPA with India
24-Aug-2012    
Sri Lanka has apparently informed Indian authorities it was not keen on having a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, as it feared granting more Indian access to its markets would destroy that country’s domestic industry. However, it has made its own set of fresh demands to consider under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is under operation since March 2000.
Sri Lanka, Israel hold bilateral trade talks
24-Apr-2012    
Sri Lanka and Israel have held their first bilateral consultation on enhancing trade ties, authorities said.
Changing partners in commerce
1-Apr-2012    
The calls to boycott American goods and services in the wake of the recent resolution at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) have highlighted the fact that Sri Lanka’s export trade is heavily dependent on a narrow slew of countries.
Sri Lanka to extend trade partnership with Azerbaijan
10-Mar-2012    
The companies from Sri Lanka are seeking for Azerbaijani partners for export development to Azerbaijan, a news report said. Economic Development Ministry of Azerbaijan reports that Sri Lankan companies are ready to supply fruits, spices, fabric and paints to the country.
Sri Lanka to further delay trade agreement with India
4-Oct-2011     Xinhua
Sri Lanka is expected to delay the decision to sign a comprehensive trade agreement with India that would encourage bilateral trade, a top government official said on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan private sector to import entire basmati rice quota from Pakistan
29-Aug-2011     Sunday Times
Sri Lanka has agreed to import its entire basmati rice quota of 6,000 tonnes from Pakistan under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) through the private sector from 2012.