Harsha defends proposed technology agreement with India

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday refuted allegations that the proposed Information Technology Consulting Agreement (ITCA) with India will endanger the jobs of Sri Lankan IT professionals.

Addressing a media conference held at the Government Information Department, Minister de Silva said that the Indian IT professionals will not have a chance of opening up their businesses in Sri Lanka or becoming a threat to the local IT professionals.

He pointed out that international service trade has four modes, three of which, namely, cross border trade, consumption abroad and commercial presence were already taking place in Sri Lanka’s IT sector.

The opposition to the agreement arises from the fear that it will allow the fourth mode of services trade, ‘presence of a natural person’.

However, the Minister asserted that the agreement will not include the fourth mode of trade and therefore, there is no possibility of Indian professionals threatening Sri Lankan jobs.