The National People’s Power (NPP) government has announced full commitment to advancing the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India, Trade, Cooperatives and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said in Parliament on Monday (24).
He said that future trade interventions must be undertaken with awareness, strategic alignment, and a unified national approach.
To support this process, the Cabinet has appointed a high-level committee to conduct a comprehensive review of all existing free trade agreements.
Once the review is complete, the committee will provide recommendations on strategic priorities and frameworks for future trade agreements, including ETCA.
Based on these recommendations, chief negotiators will be appointed, and detailed negotiation structures established, ensuring that Sri Lanka approaches upcoming negotiations with clarity and a common national position, Samarasinghe said.
The government intends to restart negotiations with bilateral partners, including India, following the committee’s guidance.
The move is notable, as the same administration had vehemently opposed ETCA while in opposition.
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