President seeks Macron’s help to retain GSP+ View(s):President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in India, has sought his assistance to retain the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade concession after the facility lapses at the end of the year. Mr Macron had assured that France would extend its fullest support for Sri Lanka to retain the GSP Plus facility and also pledged more concessions through its various trade agreements with Sri Lanka. Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said the government plans to reapply for the GSP Plus facility ahead of its expiry in December this year. Meanwhile, President Dissanayake also discussed trade with Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who was here on Monday. While thanking Britain for bringing Sri Lanka under the umbrella of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which grants preferential market access to 65 developing countries, including Sri Lanka, the President said the government was keen to retain this special facility in the future.

Source: Sunday Times February 22, 2026 07:48 UTC