Showcasing Sri Lankan culinary excellence at the Embassy Chef Challenge in Washington DC
Brief Report on “Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams” held on 08th March 2024, Hilton Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Towards a digital Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC hosts an interactive discussion
Sri Lanka Tourism shines bright in Tunisia
Sri Lanka Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA )
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion event in Alexandria Governorate
SRI LANKA SHINES BRIGHT AT VIETNAM EXPO 2023: INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR FUTURE COLLABORATION
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam participates in the International Food Festival 2023
Products of Sri Lankan SMEs enthrall and fascinate Vietnamese in Ha Noi

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Vision

“Raising living standards of the people through international trade relations”

Mission

“To develop and promote Sri Lanka’s foreign trade relations at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels by the effective implementation of government trade policy, with a view to raising the standards of living and realizing a higher quality of life through the increase of total production, income and employment levels, thereby actively contributing to the overall economic growth of Sri Lanka.”

Department of Commerce

Details
Category: DoC FAQ
What is Sri Lanka’s overall export and import pattern?

What is Sri Lanka’s overall export and import pattern?

 
Sri Lanka’s imports are highly dependent on the Asian counties. In 2019, Sri Lanka’s share of imports from the Asian Countries was as high as 81% of its total imports, while imports from the West/Western countries2 accounted for only 17%.
 
On the contrary, Sri Lanka’s export destinations are highly concentrated in the West/Western countries. In 2019, Sri Lanka’s exports to the West accounted for 62% while its exports to Asia represented only 31% of its total exports.
Will there be an impact on Sri Lanka’s exports from the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement?

Will there be an impact on Sri Lanka’s exports from the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement?

 
Sri Lanka’s exports to the 05 main countries in the RECP will not be subject to immediate challenges as well as a noticeable challenge in China, Japan and Australia during the first 10 years from the RCEP competitive suppliers.
 
However, in the RCEP region, Sri Lanka exporters will gradually be exposed to compete in an uneven playing field where certain products of Sri Lankan origin will continue to be subject to import duties whereas exports of the RCEP member countries will be duty free immediately or gradually due to RECP concessions and pre-RCEP FTAs concluded in the region.
 
What is the level of export concentrations of Sri Lanka?

What is the level of export concentrations of Sri Lanka?

 
S. No 
Number of Tariff lines 
(in 6 digit level)
 
Cumulative export Value 
($ Mn) 
 Cumulative export Value (%) 
1  1st Tariff line   654.19  6.6
2   1st Five Tariff lines   2225.13  22.5
3   1st Ten Tariff lines   3309.62  33.5
4 1st Twenty Tariff lines 4798.87 48.5
5 1st Fifty Tariff lines  6740.52 68.2
6  1st Hundred Tariff lines  8049.70 81.4
 
What is the level of import duties applicable for Sri Lankan exports to Malaysia?

What is the level of import duties applicable for Sri Lankan exports to Malaysia?

Around 70% of Sri Lanka's current exports to Malaysia already have duty free access or very low duty. (0-5%). With regard to Sri Lanka's potential exports (based on export capacity) to world, major 80 tariff lines at 6 digit level either duty free in Malaysia at MFN level or apply very low duties (0-5)
 
Will there be an impact on Sri Lanka’s Exports to Australia due to UK-Australia FTA?

Will there be an impact on Sri Lanka’s Exports to Australia due to UK-Australia FTA?

 
On 15 June 2021, Australia and UK had reached an agreement in principle on core elements of a free trade deal. In analytical and data driven perspective, US $ 77mn worth of 46 products are being threatened by the proposed FTA. (Current and potential)
 
However, threats from UK imports will not have immediate impacts on SL exports to Australia as it caters to different market segments as well as the price competitive.
 
More than UK, SL is currently facing threats from ASEAN, China imports in the country as Australia has FTAs with these countries and similar products are already supplied by these countries too. Further same threats from LDCs as they enjoy 0% duties on their exports to Australia under the Australian GSP Scheme, example all garments and textiles exports from SL is levied with 5% customs tariffs and from Bangladesh under GSP and all ASEAN & China under FTA it is 0% duties.  
 

Details
Category: DoC FAQ
What are the member countries under GSTP?

What are the member countries under GSTP?

 
42 GSTP members - Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe, and Mercosur (South American trade bloc incl. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) are the member countries of GSTP.
 
What are products eligible for Tariff Concessions? And to what extend?

What are products eligible for Tariff Concessions? And to what extend?

Tariff concessions were granted only for lists of products by each Member Country. Lists of products and Margin of Preferential (MoP) offered by all member countries are given at http://doc.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=199&lang=en
 
What document to be submitted to the Customs Authorities in the importing country to avail the tariff concessions?

What document to be submitted to the Customs Authorities in the importing country to avail the tariff concessions?

 
A Certificate of Origin issued by the DoC should be submitted. DoC issues CoOs only for the products which meet the Rules of Origin Criteria as given at http://doc.gov.lk/images/pdf/trt_gstp.pdf (page 20 onwards)
 
You may discuss the eligibility of your products for tariff concessions with the Rules of Origin Division of the DoC.
 

Details
Category: DoC FAQ
What are the Sri Lanka's bilateral FTAs which are in operation at present?

What are the Sri Lanka's bilateral FTAs which are in operation at present?

The following two bilateral agreements are in operation at present.
 
I.               India- Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), since March 2000
 
II.             Pakistan- Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA), since June 2005
What are the Sri Lanka's bilateral FTAs which are under negotiations or on –hold?

What are the Sri Lanka's bilateral FTAs which are under negotiations or on –hold?

 
I.       China- Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (06 Rounds of Negotiations were held and on hold since March 2017).
 
 II.        Sri Lanka- India Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement- ETCA (12 Rounds of    Negotiations were held and on hold since October 2018)
 
III.        Sri Lanka- Thailand Free Trade Agreement (02 Rounds of Negotiations were held and on hold since June 2017)
Does the Sri Lanka's FTA with Singapore in the status of operation?

Does the Sri Lanka's FTA with Singapore in the status of operation?

The Agreement in force since May 2018, however Sri Lankan side has not implemented its Trade Liberalization Programme. The Agreement will be reviewed with proposed amendments as the approval was granted by the Cabinet of Ministers to initiate the review process.
Will there be an impact on EU-Vietnam FTA on Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Exports to EU?

Will there be an impact on EU-Vietnam FTA on Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Exports to EU?

 
The EVFTA will have hardly any impact on 85.8% (US$ 97 million) of Sri Lanka’s fisheries exports to the EU represented by six products lines at HS sub heading level. However, there will be a significant impact on two product lines at HS sub heading level representing 8% of Sri Lanka’s total fisheries exports to the EU namely, Frozen yellowfin tunas (030342) and Frozen fish meat n.e.s. (030499).
In what ways and how long people can move under Singapore- Sri Lanka FTA?

In what ways and how long people can move under Singapore- Sri Lanka FTA?

 
Under S-SLFTA, Business visitors can come to Sri Lanka for a period of 03 months.
 
Executives, Mangers and Specialists employed in a Singapore company can send those categories to their Branch, Subsidiary, or representative office in Sri Lanka as Intra-Corporate Transferees.
 
No other movements are permitted under the S-SLFTA
 
 
 

Details
Category: DoC FAQ
What are the different fees associated with COOs?

What are the different fees associated with COOs?

 
Initial registration of companies for certificate of origin - Rs 15,000/- per Company (onetime payment)
 
Issuance of certificate of origin - Rs 1500/-
 
Issue of duplicate of COO - Rs 1500/-
 
Issue copy of the COO - Rs 750/-
 
Issue a true copy of the COO - Rs 500/-
 
Tariff Rate Quota Certificate(TRQC)-Rs 750/-
 
What is the fee for declaring a financial related institution as a Credit Agency?

What is the fee for declaring a financial related institution as a Credit Agency?

 
Rs: 115,000.00
 
What are the fees for Residence visa recommendations?

What are the fees for Residence visa recommendations?

 
Applicant – Rs. 17,250
 
Dependent - Rs. 17,250/= per adult
 
Rs. 8050/- + per Child below sixteen years of age