Press Releases
Ambassador of Sri Lanka Contributes to UNESCAP – Side Event during the 81st ESCAP Commission Session
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Wijayanthi Edirisinghe invited to attend a panel discussion at the BIMSTEC-ESCAP side event held during the 81st ESCAP Commission Session under the theme “Harnessing Digital Technologies for Sustainable Development in the Bay of Bengal Region.” On 23.04.2025.
Sri Lanka’s Engagement at 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, led Sri Lanka’s delegation at the 81st Session of ESCAP, held from 21 to 25 April 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
Having secured a substantial US$3 billion package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March, Sri Lanka is now focusing on expanding trade opportunities to stimulate economic growth. Negotiations between Sri Lanka and Thailand have already progressed through five rounds of talks, with the most recent discussions held in July.
Cabinet Spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena announced that the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand is just one of several deals that Sri Lanka is actively negotiating to facilitate its economic recovery and return to a sustainable growth trajectory.
In addition to the ongoing talks with Thailand, Sri Lanka is looking to initiate free trade discussions with Indonesia and reopen negotiations with its neighboring economic powerhouse, India, to further develop and enhance an existing trade agreement.
Sri Lanka has also expressed keen interest in revisiting negotiations for a free trade deal with China.
As negotiations with Thailand progress, Sri Lanka said it remains hopeful that the culmination of these efforts will usher in a new era of economic prosperity, open up new avenues for trade, and enhance its position in the global marketplace.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka Contributes to UNESCAP – Side Event during the 81st ESCAP Commission Session
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Wijayanthi Edirisinghe invited to attend a panel discussion at the BIMSTEC-ESCAP side event held during the 81st ESCAP Commission Session under the theme “Harnessing Digital Technologies for Sustainable Development in the Bay of Bengal Region.” On 23.04.2025.
Sri Lanka’s Engagement at 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, led Sri Lanka’s delegation at the 81st Session of ESCAP, held from 21 to 25 April 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.