Department of Commerce Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Hosted 03rd Sub-Committee Meeting on Trade (SCT) between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, 09 December 2025 – Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka hosted the Third Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Trade (SCT) between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam on 09th December 2025 in Colombo, bringing together high-level delegates from both nations to discuss and facilitate bilateral trade, economic and technical collaboration.

The session of the 3rd SCT led by head of delegates of both sides; Mr. K. A. Vimalenthirarajah, the Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development of Sri Lanka , and Hon. (Ms) Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam. This high-level meeting attended by senior government officials and dignitaries from both countries to explore new opportunities for collaboration and to develop actionable outcomes for mutual growth and prosperity.

In his remarks, the Secretary, Vimalenthirarajah stressed that the meeting comes at a crucial time of shifting global economic dynamics and reaffirmed the shared vision of Sri Lanka and Viet Nam to strengthen bilateral trade and diversify economic engagement. He highlighted modest improvements since the last meeting but noted that current trade volumes fall short of true potential. Emphasizing Sri Lanka’s preparations to join RCEP, he sought Viet Nam’s support and underscored the strategic importance of extended cumulation under the EU GSP. He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in apparel, logistics, fisheries, investment, technology, and trade facilitation to advance mutual growth.

Further the both sides reviewed recent socio-economic developments in their respective countries and assess the current status of bilateral trade relations. The discussions will also focus on key challenges, opportunities, and priority areas requiring strengthened cooperation.

Both Delegations reaffirmed the importance of deepening bilateral trade and economic collaboration and agreed on a series of strategic actions aimed at further enhancing trade and investment ties between the two nations in the areas of market access facilitation and joint venture opportunities, Industrial cooperation , Cooperation in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, Investment cooperation , Air services cooperation, Collaboration in logistics sector, Cooperation in port development, including boat building, ship repair, and marine and nautical tourism infrastructure , Cooperation in the Information Technology sector and Cooperation in the ayurvedic sector.

Both sides will continue technical discussions and will work toward expediting the implementation of agreed initiatives ahead of the next Sub-Committee Meeting.

The leading business entities accompanying the Vietnamese delegation also held several sideline meetings with key government agencies and Sri Lankan business stakeholders, including a discussion with the Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development of Sri Lanka.

Department of Commerce
10 December 2025

Digital Skill Development of South Asian Women Entrepreneurs on Enhancing Business Opportunities begins in Colombo

A three-day workshop aimed at helping South Asian women entrepreneurs strengthen their digital and online business skills was held from 18-20 November 2025, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo.

The programme was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in collaboration with the Department of Commerce.

The Opening Session was attended by Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security & Co-operative Development, who delivered the keynote speech, along with Mr. Marc André Franche, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Mr. K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development. Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Head, South and South-West Asia Office, UNESCAP, Mr. Kiyoung Ko, Director, Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development, Ms. Ameena Mohin, Director General of Commerce and Dr. Rajan Ratna, Deputy Head, South and South-West Asia office, UNESCAP and other senior officials.

In his keynote address, the Hon. Minister highlighted the critical role of digital skills in today’s business environment and emphasized the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. He noted that, with access to digital tools, e-commerce platforms, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, women-led businesses can expand their reach, strengthen competitiveness, and contribute to national and regional growth.

The workshop focused on practical digital skills that can help women improve their businesses such as promoting products online, reaching new customers, and making better use of digital tools, including AI.

A total of 78 women entrepreneurs, 28 from South Asian countries and 50 from Sri Lanka, took part in the programme.

Department of Commerce
24 November 2025

Sri Lanka Delegation Leads Trade Policy Review at WTO in Geneva

A high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, is participating in the fifth Trade Policy Review (TPR) of Sri Lanka at the World Trade Organization (WTO), taking place from 15 to 20 October 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Trade Policy Reviews are conducted periodically for all Members of the WTO and allows Members to examine and evaluate the trade policy framework of the reviewed Member for the period since the last review.

Sri Lanka’s last Trade Policy Review was conducted in 2016, making the current review the fifth TPR, held after a period of nine years. The present review cycle reflects Sri Lanka’s ongoing commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in its trade and investment framework under the WTO framework.

During the review, Sri Lanka will address questions from WTO Members on several trade issues, including tariffs, non-tariff measures, investment, sectoral policies in agriculture, industry, and services, and intellectual property, as well as ongoing regulatory reforms.

The Department of Commerce (DoC) plays a pivotal role in coordinating the entire TPR process on behalf of Sri Lanka. Since 2024, the DoC has undertaken extensive coordination with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to prepare comprehensive and accurate inputs for the WTO’s review process.

Department of Commerce
17th October 2025

Department of Commerce Organizes Awareness Seminar for SMEs in Galle District

The Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Galle District Secretariat and the Small Enterprises Development Division (SED), successfully conducted an Awareness Seminar for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Galle District.

The seminar was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of SMEs on market access opportunities available through Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and preferential as well as non-preferential trade arrangements. This initiative also provided participants with insights into international market requirements, compliance criteria, and standards necessary for successful export ventures.

Addressing the opening session, Mr. W.A. Darmarasiri, Galle District Secretary, highlighted the importance of strengthening SME capacity to contribute more effectively to Sri Lanka’s export growth. Mrs. Ameena Mohin, Acting Director General of Commerce, and Mr. Premasiri, Assistant Director of SED also joined the opening ceremony.

Officials from the Department of Commerce, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) joined the programme, sharing valuable technical expertise on rules of origin, standards, certification, application of trade remedy laws and trade facilitation.

This programme marked the second regional seminar of 2025 and forms part of a series of regional-level initiatives organized annually by the Department of Commerce. It reflects the Department’s continued commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable trade development across all regions of the country.

During the Q & A session, participants had the opportunity to engage actively with the resource persons, raise relevant questions, and gain further clarifications on the key topics discussed. The interactive session provided a valuable platform for sharing practical experiences and insights, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the programme.

Participants expressed strong interest in topics such as, Rules of Origin and their application in trade agreements, Standards, technical regulations, certification requirements in foreign markets and effective utilization of tariff concessions under Sri Lanka’s trade agreements.

The Department of Commerce reaffirms its dedication to empowering Sri Lankan SMEs, enabling them to become competitive players in the global marketplace and contribute to the country’s long-term trade and economic development.

Department of Commerce
10th October 2025

The Department of Commerce successfully conducted an awareness session on Recently published regulations under Anti- Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act

The Department of Commerce successfully conducted an awareness session on Recently published regulations under Anti- Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act No. 2 of 2018 for the key government stakeholders. This session was held on 18 September 2025 at the Department of Commerce with the participation 35 officers from the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Department of Commerce.

Background of the Trade Remedies in the International Trade context and the Sri Lankan Law was explained by Ms. Ruwanthi Ariyarathne, Director of Commerce, Actg. and Ms. Chandiwari Mallwa Arachchi, Legal officer of the Departmnt of Commerce for the participants. Importantly the Department of Commerce shared the experience gained in handling trade remedy investigations conducted by other countries against exportes/producers in Sri Lanka. The session was ended with a discussion about interest and preperation of domestic industry in Sri Lanka in order to seek remedies under the current domestic Laws.

“Talk to the Commercial Officers”- Webinar on Market Access Opportunities in Germany

“Talk to the Commercial Officers”- Webinar on Market Access Opportunities in Italy

Mrs. Ameena Mohin assumed duties today as the Director General of Commerce (Actg.) of the Department of Commerce. This appointment marks a significant milestone of the Department of Commerce for its ongoing efforts to strengthen the foreign trade policies, enhance economic growth, and foster international commerce relations.

With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years in trade policy, overseas trade representation, and trade negotiations, Mrs. Mohin brings a wealth of expertise and visionary leadership to this pivotal role. Her extensive experience in multilateral trading system and trade negotiations positions her as an ideal leader to drive Sri Lanka’s commercial landscape.

Mrs. Mohin has previously served in Diplomatic Missions of Sri Lanka in Frankfurt, Milan, Washington DC, and Kuala Lumpur, where she played an instrumental role in economic diplomacy. Her strategic insights and commitment to sustainable trade practices align with Sri Lanka’s goals of economic resilience, regional market integration, and inclusive growth.

The Department of Commerce is calling for applications to select the companies for Anuga Select India 2025 to be held from 20 to 22 August in Mumbai.

The interested companies are invited to apply via https://forms.gle/reSAN8tQtR7zxSCb6

The deadline is 3rd June 2025.

Global Trade Insights Vol. 4 is Here!

We are excited to bring you the latest edition of the Global Trade Insights newsletter, prepared by the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka. Click here to view the newsletter https://shorturl.at/hqmeA

In Volume 4, dive into a range of informative articles covering global trade developments and strategic opportunities, including:

France’s Evolving Food & Beverage Market: Discover opportunities for Sri Lankan exports.

Selyn’s Digital Leap: How Sri Lanka’s handloom giant earned WFTO recognition.

New EU Regulation on Deforestation: What it means for exporters.

Unlocking the South African Market: A guide to tapping into new prospects.

Italy’s Stance on U.S. Tariff Measures: Understanding the impact.

Global Trade Outlook 2025: Key trends and forecasts.

Sri Lanka’s Export Potential: Insights on emerging opportunities.

Stay ahead in global trade! For suggestions or feedback, reach out to the Department of Commerce at [email protected].

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐔 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐄𝐔𝐃𝐑)

As many of you may already be aware, the new EU Regulation on Deforestation (EUDR) will come into full effect by end of 2025. This regulation is especially relevant for Sri Lankan rubber industry stakeholders and other exporters to the EU.

It is essential to understand the requirements of this new regulation and take timely steps to ensure compliance.

We are sharing an informative document prepared by Ms. Thavishya Mullegamgoda, Minister (Commercial) at the Embassy of Sri Lanka to the EU, explaining key aspects of the EUDR and its implications for Sri Lankan exporters.

Global Trade Insights Vol. 3
"U.S. Reciprocal Tariffs: Sri Lanka’s Trade Dilemma and Global Reactions"

We’re excited to share the third volume of our Global Trade Insights newsletter! 🇱🇰🌍 This edition dives into how countries around the world are responding to the U.S. reciprocal tariffs—and what it means for Sri Lanka’s trade landscape.

The insights are compiled from reports by our Department of Commerce officers stationed at Sri Lankan Missions abroad, offering a truly global perspective.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZZCS1JddScFiAqVqSykKdS_hVDUPKFNe/view?usp=drive_link

Stay tuned for more updates in future editions!
We welcome your thoughts and suggestions—email us at [email protected]

US Reciprocal Tariffs Global Reactions.pdf