A proposed bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and Sri Lanka will be a key agenda during Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s three-day official visit here.

The Prime Minister, who arrives here today, will discuss the matter with Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena in a bilateral meeting tomorrow.

“Both leaders will discuss the way forward for the FTA,” the charge d’affaires at the High Commission of Malaysia in Sri Lanka, Zainal Izran Zahari, told Malaysian media here yesterday.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between both countries.

Najib’s trip, which is to reciprocate Sirisena’s visit to Malaysia in December last year, will also be his first official visit as Prime Minister.

Bilateral trade between the two countries rose 13.6% between January and September to US$499.1mil (RM2.04bil) compared with the same period last year.

There are 47 Malaysian companies operating in Sri Lanka with a total investment of US$3bil (RM12.2bil). The biggest is Dialog Axiata with an investment worth US$2.1bil (RM8.57bil) in the telecommunications sector.

In November last year, Malaysia presented Sri Lanka with a scoping paper containing the objectives and proposed direction for discussions involving the FTA.

“It’s now at technical stage and hopefully, both sides can discuss the terms and conditions of the FTA which will be agreed upon,” said Zainal Izran, adding that the International Trade and Industry Minister will be taking the lead on the issue.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will meet Sri Lanka’s business leaders, the Malaysian community and representatives of Malaysian companies in Sri Lanka, including Dialog Axiata and Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd.

Najib and Sirisena will also witness the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoU).

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, several ministers and Government officials, including International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican and Malaysia’s Special Envoy on Infrastructure to India and South Asia Tun S. Samy Vellu.

On another matter, Wisma Putra issued a statement on Dec 12 saying that Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah had been reassigned to the Foreign Ministry prior to Najib’s visit.

The statement said Wan Zaidi was due to take up an important assignment related to Malaysia’s chairmanship of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by Razak ahmad in colombo

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