President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the Government plans to enter into new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and revise existing agreements to expand Sri Lanka’s international trade and investment opportunities.
Delivering the 2027 Budget speech in Parliament, the President said the Government was seeking to strengthen trade relations with key partners, including China and India, while also expanding trade engagements with Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He said a committee had been appointed to oversee efforts to expand Sri Lanka’s existing Free Trade Agreement with India.
Meanwhile, the Government is exploring the possibility of entering into a new FTA with China to further strengthen bilateral trade relations.
Dissanayake stressed the importance of establishing trade agreements with other countries as Sri Lanka faces emerging global challenges and new business opportunities.
He said expanding and improving existing agreements would help the country respond to changing international economic conditions and gain better access to overseas markets.
The President added that pursuing new trade agreements and revising existing FTAs formed part of the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen international economic cooperation, attract investment and promote trade-led economic growth.
