Australia Backs Sri Lanka’s Food Security Drive and RCEP Membership Plan

COLOMBO (News 1st):Australia has reaffirmed its readiness to extend support to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food security, while also backing the country’s ongoing efforts to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — the world’s largest free trade agreement.

The commitment was conveyed during a discussion between Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Duckworth expressed Australia’s willingness to work closely with Sri Lanka to enhance the nation’s food security systems — an area of critical national priority.

In addition, Australia extended its support for Sri Lanka’s accession process to RCEP, a significant development in the island nation’s pursuit of deeper regional economic integration.

RCEP — comprising 15 Asia‑Pacific nations, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, China, and Japan — covers 30% of global GDP and 30% of the world population, making it the globe’s largest trading bloc. 

The discussion also included an exchange of views on the Disaster situation caused by the Ditwah cyclone, which recently affected Sri Lanka.