Sri Lanka in deal with Indian standards bureau

COLOMBO: In a move that is expected to boost bilateral trade, Sri Lanka has agreed to work together with India's Bureau of Standards to have common benchmarks for products and services.

Under the deal, the two countries will accept the standards certificates of their respective organisations charged with maintaining benchmarks for products and services, Media Minister Anura Yapa told reporters here today.

The ISI mark, instituted by Indian Standards Institution (ISI), will be recognised in Sri Lanka while India will reciprocate Sri lanka's SLS standards certificate, the minister said. "Under the move, the two standards institutes will harmonise their work and this will be a boost for bilateral trade," the Minister said.