Foreign minister says Lanka to pass bills to create efficient environment for investors

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said Monday that the government plans to pass a series of bills that will create a more suitable investment environment in the country.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom, Samaraweera said it is Sri Lanka's constant endeavor to improve market access by deepening existing free trade agreements with India and Pakistan, and also negotiating to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with emerging markets like China.

He said that the government is confident that the Swedish trade delegation would find Sri Lanka an attractive gateway to the subcontinent and other Indian Ocean Rim nations, Xinhua reports.

Sri Lanka, he said, is also consolidating its position in developed markets such as the United States, adding that he was happy to announce that the EU Commission has lifted sanctions fish exports from Sri Lanka.

The seven-member Swedish trade delegation discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade, tourism and investment ties.