PM in Singapore to sign key bilateral deals

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives at Changi airport yesterday for a three-day official visit

Sri Lanka and Singapore will sign several bilateral agreements during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s three-day ongoing official visit to the East Asian nation at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, accompanied by his wife, Prof. Maitree Wickremesinghe, and the delegation, arrived at Changi Airport in Singapore yesterday.

An official welcome ceremony will be held for Prime Minister Wickremesinghe at the Istana on Monday, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. This will be followed by calls on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee.

Both prime ministers will also witness the signing of bilateral agreements before Prime Minister Lee hosts an official lunch at the Istana.

A possible Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) is being studied as both countries are keen to pursue the deal to enhance bilateral trade.

The FTA is expected to comprise commitments in trade in goods, services, investment and government procurement, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

In 2015, Sri Lanka was Singapore’s 39th largest trading partner and bilateral trade amounted to S$ 2.05 billion. Exports to Sri Lanka totalled S$ 1.9 billion last year, while imports from Sri Lanka totalled S$ 146 million. Sri Lanka was Singapore’s 29th largest export destination in 2015, said MTI.

During the visit, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will deliver the Special Address at the Third South Asia Diaspora Convention, organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies on 18 July.

He will also meet with Singapore business leaders at an event organised by International Enterprise Singapore on 19 July. 

In addition, as part of his interest in capacity building, ports and heritage and conservation, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will visit the Civil Service College, PSA, National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore River.

His delegation will include Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera and Deputy Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Sarathi Dushmantha Mithrapala.