Press Releases
Ambassador and Permanent Representative C.A. Chaminda I Colonne delivers a Special address at the “1st Asia Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit” in New Delhi
At the invitation of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand and Permanent Representative to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne recently delivered a Special Address in the Inaugural Session of the “1st Asia Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit” which was jointly organized by ICRIER and United Nations ESCAP South and South West Asia Office in New Delhi, at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in New Delhi.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Chaminda Colonne Chairs the 80th Commission Session of the UNESCAP and launches “Cooperation with Impact – Launch of the Technical Cooperation Highlights 2022-2023”
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne, led the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 80th Commission Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, (UNESCAP) from 22nd to 26th April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific” and elected as a Vice Chair of the Bureau for the 80th Commission.
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 and Permanent Representative C.A. Chaminda I Colonne delivers a Special address at the “1st Asia Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit” in New Delhi
At the invitation of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand and Permanent Representative to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne recently delivered a Special Address in the Inaugural Session of the “1st Asia Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit” which was jointly organized by ICRIER and United Nations ESCAP South and South West Asia Office in New Delhi, at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in New Delhi.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Chaminda Colonne Chairs the 80th Commission Session of the UNESCAP and launches “Cooperation with Impact – Launch of the Technical Cooperation Highlights 2022-2023”
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne, led the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 80th Commission Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, (UNESCAP) from 22nd to 26th April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific” and elected as a Vice Chair of the Bureau for the 80th Commission.
