President's French visit postponed

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's official visit to France, which was scheduled to take place at the end of this month, has been postponed until the end of this year due to various administrative crises that have arisen domestically. The domestic needs that have emerged within the country, including the impact of the recent violent incident at Negombo Prison, have been the primary reasons for this decision.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that French authorities have been informed about this delay and that Sri Lanka has requested a new date for the visit later this year. The invitation for this official visit was extended during a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and President Dissanayake, held during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi last February.

Obtaining France's support to extend Sri Lanka's 'GSP+' tax concession period was a key issue to be discussed during this visit. As the current tax concession scheme ends on December 31st, Sri Lanka will have to reapply for it next year. The continuous receipt of this European Union market concession will be determined by the active implementation of 27 international conventions, including human rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance.

During the President's visit, the government plans to sign three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at strengthening economic and financial ties, as well as cooperation in the defense sector, between the two countries. Minister Herath stated that they expect to finalize the contents of the relevant agreements before the visit commences. The presidential delegation for this French visit is expected to include Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha.