UNP has its say over fresh Indo-Lanka deal

The UNP MP and its Chief Spokesman for the economy Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday issued the following statement on the conclusion of fresh round of bilateral agreements signed between Sri Lanka and India in New Delhi this week.

We welcome the news that Sri Lanka and India have decided to begin discussions to develop a framework for a special economic partnership between the two countries.

Re-energising our export sector has now become a critical challenge. Even though we are not aware how these discussions would differ from the comprehensive economic partnership or CEPA discussions that have gone on for a number of years without success, we believe that any agreement that would ultimately help develop local industry and commerce and help link small and medium entrepreneurs to regional supply chains must be encouraged.

The increasing reliance on remittances from unskilled labour in the Middle East to bridge the ever-widening trade deficits in the face of falling exports is certainly not a sustainable strategy to sustain a level of growth that can bring prosperity to the people of this country in the long run. We hope the Government will have the political will to stick to a game plan and not be thrown off track by the cabal of self-serving ultra-nationalist forces who pretend to represent the interests of the population at large.