• No Cabinet decision on resuming suspended trade negotiations 6 months after ’24 General Elections
• Deputy Minister confirms no Cabinet paper, discussions on proposed trade agreements
• Dept. of Commerce awaiting policy direction to restart bilateral talks
• No chief negotiator appointed, no talks close to finalisation
• Have capacity to lead negotiations if authorised: Dept. of Commerce

Six months on from the 2024 General Elections, the new regime is yet to make a policy decision regarding the suspended negotiations with Sri Lanka’s bilateral trade partners on proposed trade agreements. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana revealed that no discussions had yet taken place at the ministerial level with regard to recommencing the suspended trade talks with Sri Lanka’s bilateral trade partners.

“I will have to check whether any discussion has taken place at the Cabinet level. That topic was not part of what we have discussed in the Cabinet so far,” he stated.

He further confirmed that no Cabinet paper had been prepared seeking approval to recommence these suspended trade talks.

“We will have discussions about this in the future, regarding what we agree on and what they agree on,” he said. 

Jayawardana further claimed that none of the suspended trade talks had progressed to a stage where the parties were close to signing agreements.

Similarly, speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Department of Commerce Director General of Commerce Ameena Shafi Mohin confirmed that the suspended trade talks with Sri Lanka’s bilateral trade partners had yet to recommence, adding that they were still awaiting a policy direction from the Government on the matter.

“The Government wanted to review the existing agreements,” she stated.

She further confirmed that no steps had been taken to appoint a chief negotiator yet.

Commenting on the fate of the now-defunct International Trade Office (ITO), which had led the trade talks under the previous regime, she stated that the officers of the Department of Commerce were more than competent to lead the trade negotiations once the Government gave the greenlight to commence.

“The officers of the Department of Commerce contributed to various working groups under the ITO, such as on trade and energy and proof of origin, etc. Also, the former team (trade delegation) involved our officers and the former Director General of Commerce. All our officers contributed to these working groups and chaired or co-chaired them. 

“Therefore, the Department of Commerce has the expertise and the necessary professionals, because our officers are trained for this. If the Government gives the greenlight, the department will start the negotiations,” she asserted.