August 10, 2023
1 min read

Lanka to join RCEP

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka will work closely with the ASEAN nations in the coming years….reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka will join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and sign Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries after debt restructuring is complete, the President’s Media Division (PMD) announced on Thursday.

The PMD said in a statement that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took part in events to celebrate the ASEAN Day in Colombo, expressed his support for the bloc’s vision for the Indo-Pacific region, reports Xinhua news agency.

Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka will work closely with the ASEAN nations in the coming years.

Sri Lanka has an FTA with Singapore and is holding discussions to sign one with Thailand next year, the President said.

Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka wants to become the first South Asian country to join RCEP, which is the largest trade bloc in history, following the completion of debt restructuring.

“We must join RCEP. There is no reason not to join it,” he said.

Sri Lanka also plans to sign trade agreements with India and Bangladesh, he said.

ALSO READ: Ties with India won’t affect sovereignty, says Lankan president

Previous Story

US partners with tech giants for AI cyber challenge

Next Story

India’s $246,852 aid strengthens flood resilience in Suriname

Latest from -Top News

India’s deepest strikes since 1971 

By extending its strike capabilities deep into Pakistan’s heartland, India has redrawn the contours of conventional deterrence in the subcontinent. This could embolden future Indian responses to cross-border terror attacks, but it

PM calls off Europe trip 

The visit was slated to include India’s participation in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on May 15–16.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has postponed his forthcoming visits to Norway, Croatia, and the

UK urges direct dialogue 

Describing the situation as a “serious concern,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged both nuclear-armed neighbours to avoid escalation and prioritise diplomatic avenues.  UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called on India

Trump urges restraint between India, Pak 

Speaking on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Trump said that both India and Pakistan should work the crisis out  US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed his concern over the escalating

Terror hotbeds in Pakistan levelled 

The targets levelled include Markaz Taiba, Sawai Nala camp, Syedna Bilal camp, Barnala camp, Abbas camp, Sarjal camp,  Mehmona Joya camp, Gulpur camp and Markaz Subhanallah    Two weeks after Pakistani terrorists
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India offers help after surgeries suspended in Lankan hospital

The information regarding the shortage of medicines was shared by

Sri Lanka cautious about FTA with China

The publication suggests that to make FTA work on the