Press Releases
08th Round of Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement Negotiations was successfully concluded in Bangkok, Thailand
Sri Lankan School Chess Players Shine at the 18th Asian School Chess Championships in Bangkok
Sri Lankan students showcased their exceptional chess skills at the 18th Asian School Chess Championships, held from 1st to 11th December 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, co-organized by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), saw participation from 32 countries across Asia.
Sri Lankan Automobile Component Manufacturers Explore Opportunities in Thailand
A 12-member delegation of Sri Lankan automobile component manufacturers successfully concluded a week-long exposure visit to Bangkok from 30th November to 6th December 2024. The visit was jointly organized by the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce. Its primary objective was to enhance the delegation’s understanding of Thailand’s advanced automotive sector and to foster meaningful business collaborations between the two countries.
The 08th Round of Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) Negotiations was held from 27-29 November in Bangkok, Thailand. The negotiations were co-chaired by the Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations and the Chief Negotiator of Thailand, Auramon Supthaweethum and the Chief Negotiator of Sri Lanka, K. J. Weerasinghe.
The Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations and the Chief Negotiator of Thailand, Auramon Supthaweethum welcomed the delegation of Sri Lanka to the 08th Round of SLTFTA Negotiations and stated that both countries have agreed to conclude the SLTFTA Negotiations by the end of 2023 with the aim of signing on 03rd February 2024 to coincide with the independence day celebrations of Sri Lanka.
The Chief Negotiator of Sri Lanka, K. J. Weerasinghe, expressed his appreciation to Thailand for hosting the 08th Round of 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 03rd February 2024.
A Seminar on “trade and investment opportunities in Thailand and Sri Lanka” was organised by the Department of Trade Negotiations and the Department of International Trade Promotion of Thailand on 29th November 2023. The opening remarks at the Seminar were delivered by the Deputy Minister of Commerce, Napintorn Srisunpang and Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP, C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne.
Deputy Minister Napintorn highlighted during his opening remarks that the establishment of the Thailand-Sri Lanka FTA is an opportunity to expand trade and investment into new markets in South Asia. Sri Lanka is strategically located on the shipping routes of the Indian Ocean. It is linked to South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa and is a key strategic link in China’s Maritime Silk Road and has abundant resources such as gems, aquatic animals and minerals, which are raw materials that Thailand’s domestic industry needs.
During her remarks Ambassador Colonne stated that despite the longstanding historical relations between our two brotherly nations based on Buddhist religious values, the two-way trade between Sri Lanka and Thailand amounted to only USD 352 million in 2022. It is regrettable to state that the total investment received from Thailand in Sri Lanka is negligible, with only USD 0.74 million recorded in 2022. 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 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Sri Lanka has submitted its letter of intent to RCEP Secretariat.
The delegation of Thailand consisted of Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Trade, Thai Customs Department, Board of Investment and Office of the Council of State.
The delegation of Sri Lanka comprised of senior Officials from the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Thailand, Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Commerce, Department of Trade and Investment Policies, Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka Customs, Central Bank, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand
13th December 2023
Sri Lankan School Chess Players Shine at the 18th Asian School Chess Championships in Bangkok
Sri Lankan students showcased their exceptional chess skills at the 18th Asian School Chess Championships, held from 1st to 11th December 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, co-organized by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), saw participation from 32 countries across Asia.
Sri Lankan Automobile Component Manufacturers Explore Opportunities in Thailand
A 12-member delegation of Sri Lankan automobile component manufacturers successfully concluded a week-long exposure visit to Bangkok from 30th November to 6th December 2024. The visit was jointly organized by the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce. Its primary objective was to enhance the delegation’s understanding of Thailand’s advanced automotive sector and to foster meaningful business collaborations between the two countries.
