Press Trust of India / Colombo Jun 04, 2010, 16:50 IST
The controversial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be prominent in India-Sri Lanka talks when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa visits India on June 8.
Minister of Mass Media and Communication Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters in Colombo that the issue would figure during official talks before the agreement could be signed by the end of this year.
He, however, said the Government was determined to provide an opportunity to the business community, industrialists, investors, importers and exporters, and even consumers to air their views on the CEPA and other agreements before they are signed.
Rajapaksa has maintained any bilateral agreement should have equal benefits to Sri Lanka and India.However, some domestic groups in Sri Lanka argue that CEPA benefits the neighbouring country more and would adversely affect domestic businesses here.
CEPA was expected to be signed two years back during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Colombo for the SAARC summit. It was, however, shelved at the last moment due to opposition from Sri Lankan business community, which feared that the island could be dominated by cheaper and skilled Indian services at the expense of the domestic industry.
Last month again protesters including doctors and engineers, took to streets and sought assurance from Rajapaksa that he would not sign CEPA with India during his visit in June to New Delhi.
Rajapaksa assured them that he would not ink any agreement that would have adverse impact on Sri Lanka. The government website yesterday quoted the President saying that CEPA agreement will 'probably' be signed at the end of 2010 only after their suggestions and ideas are evaluated and incorporated in the agreement.
Apocalyptic-Pralaym Sri Lankan shelling and bombings of the Tamil civilians
Some 40,000 innocent Hindu women, men and children are estimated to have slaughtered in the apocalyptic carnage-varthayal varnicca mudiyathavai
The injured cried for help, while bleeding to death where no one stopped to give a lending hand in their own desperation to escape. The elderly and disabled were left behind. People lay dead on the streets and in their hastily dug bunkers. Orphaned and children were wandering aimlessly amidst the chaos of blocked roads and desperate humanity.
We do not need to go anywhere, take the dividend and corporate policies of three Public Listed Companies ( PLCs ) listed at Colombo Stock Exchange ( CSE ). Financial Reports reflect how they do and what they do .. CEPA as well as ILFTA has to be a W I N - W I N accord ..
Thinking beyond the existing Free Trade Agreement between India and Sri Lanka ( ILFTA ), is Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ( CEPA ). But, the ILFTA itself has to be reviewed. If you get the current ILFTA, the Import Export Ratio is about 5 : 1 ( Sri Lanka imports more than its exports ) and Sri Lanka is having an enormous Trade Balance ( Hard currency outflow is greater than the goods exchange ) as India applies unilateral quota system for 58 % of Sri Lanka's major exports as Tea, Garments, Vanaspathi, Copper, Pepper, and so forth. As the ILFTA is already not a W I N - W I N situation for Sri Lanka. The both accords has to be meticulously reviewed ..
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