Mixed Results

May 02 (LBO) – Indo-Lanka trade talks hit a roadblock last week with dialogue on trade in goods shelved for later this month, though talks on services made headway. "We could not complete the talks on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as scheduled. We were able to hold discussions on financial services and other service areas," Nimal Karunatilake, Deputy Director of Commerce told LBO on Tuesday.

"Negotiations on goods, investment, double taxation and economic co-operation are being re-scheduled for later this month or in early June."

Trade talks were re-scheduled on request from India due to inability of top Indian delegates to be present at the talks held in Colombo on April 27, Karunatilake said.

"We have discussed our reasons with the Sri Lankan government and have sought and put forward new dates in the last week of May and are waiting for a response," Sunjay Sudhir, First Secretary, Economic and Commercial at the Indian High Commission in Colombo, told LBO.

Both sides have exchanged request lists to liberalise service sectors, with India wanting professional services, education, energy, tourism, Information Technology, h