Govt. drafts Bill to prevent unilateral withdrawal from international agreements

The Government has decided to draw up legislation to prevent the unilateral revocation of bilateral or multilateral agreements made for national development. 

The proposal to this effect submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the legal draftsman to prepare a comprehensive Bill aimed at bolstering the enforcement of these agreements was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday.

“Sri Lanka’s credibility and international repute are tarnished after cancelling agreements instantly without consulting the other parties involved. By enacting laws that reinforce these commitments, the Government aims to foster an environment of trust and reliability on the global stage once again,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

The proposal underscores the need for a robust legal framework to instil a sense of accountability and responsibility among all stakeholders involved in bilateral and multilateral agreements. 

On 22 May 2023, the Cabinet approved that laws should be enacted to prevent deviation from bilateral and multilateral agreements that are determined to be essential for national development without the consent of the relevant parties.