. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/440
1 March 2001
(01-1019)
Council for Trade in Goods Original:  English
  18 April 2001
SRI LANKA – ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW SCHEDULE VI
Request for Extension of Time-Limit
The following communication, dated 26 February 2001, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka.
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I refer to the fax of 19 February 2001, on the above subject.
I have been instructed by my authorities in Sri Lanka to furnish the following information
with regard to Sri Lanka's request for extension of time-limit for the current waiver, which expires on
30 April 2001.
1. Date of original waiver:  8 November 1998.2. Date of submission of document relevant to the HS implementation:  12 January 1990.3. Number of extensions and dates when granted:  22 extensions, as follows:  24/07/89;
16/07/90;  07/12/90;  01/07/91;  04/12/91;  20/07/92;  03/12/92;  19/07/93;  17/01/94;
21/07/94;  09/12/94;  31/08/95;  13/12/95;  18/07/96;  16/07/97;  22/10/97;  30/04/98;
14/10/98;  15/06/99 (granted with retroactive effect 30/04/99);  04/11/99;  03/05/2000;  and8/12/2000.
4. Number of countries with which Article XXVIII negotiations have been initiated:  Five
(Australia, European Union, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States).
5. Number of countries with which Article XXVIII negotiations have been concluded:  Three.
6. Status of outstanding Article XXVIII negotiations as well as a general outline of relevant
problems, if any:
Sri Lanka continues to make every effort to conclude negotiations under Article XXVIII.  The
negotiations with the European Union and the United States are still continuing.
7. Outlook for concluding the process:
Sri Lanka has had bilateral negotiations with the European Union and the US in respect of Sri
Lanka's Schedule.  These negotiations are still continuing.  Hence, to conclude these
negotiations with the concerned two trading partners, Sri Lanka may require at least one more
extension of time.  The Government of Sri Lanka, therefore, will appreciate the granting of a
further extension of six months to conclude th e outstanding negotiations and wishes to assureG/L/440
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its trading partners that every effort will be made to conclude the negotiations satisfactorily,
and in the mutual interest of all concerned, as soon as possible.
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