Sri Lanka and Thailand agree to conclude FTA talks by end of this year

• Aim to sign agreement on February 03, 2024, which coincides with Sri Lanka’s Independence Day

The sixth round of Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) negotiations was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 21-23.
The negotiations were co-chaired by Trade Negotiations Department Director General and Chief Negotiator of Thailand Auramon Supthaweethum and Chief Negotiator of Sri Lanka K.J. Weerasinghe.
The delegations from both countries discussed a wide range of issues, including trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, trade remedies, investment and legal and institutional issues.
At the end of the negotiations, both countries agreed to conclude the SLTFTA negotiations by the end of 2023, with the aim of signing the agreement on February 03, 2024, which coincides with Sri Lanka’s Independence Day.

Weerasinghe expressed his appreciation to Thailand for hosting the sixth round of the SLTFTA negotiations. He also expressed his gratitude in agreeing to conclude the SLTFTA negotiations by the end of 2023, with the aim of signing on February 03, 2024.
Weerasinghe highlighted the importance of Thai investments to Sri Lanka and requested the Thai side to consider the concept paper submitted by the Sri Lanka side on the establishment of a special investment zone exclusively for Thai investors.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne expressed sincere appreciation to the Trade Negotiations Department of Thailand for the excellent arrangements made for the sixth round of the SLTFTA negotiations.

She stated that the vision of the Government of Sri Lanka is to integrate into the global economy and in this context, to expand economic and trade relations to South Asia and then to the east and to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). She highlighted that being placed in strategic locations, Thailand serves as a gateway for Sri Lanka to the ASEAN region and Sri Lanka as a gateway to large markets of South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.