ETCA will move at Lanka's desired pace: Indian envoy

India today said it is prepared to move at Sri Lanka's pace in the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Framework Agreement (ETCA) which would immensely benefit Colombo in sectors like technology, vocational training, IT and tourism.
Addressing the Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce here, Indian High Commissioner YK Sinha said the first round of negotiations would begin soon.
"India was prepared to move at a pace which Sri Lanka is comfortable with and address Sri Lankan concerns as well as take measures to facilitate Sri Lankan exports to India," Sinha said.
He said ETCA proposed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would focus on sectors such as capacity building, technology, vocational training, IT and tourism, among others, which would immensely benefit Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan government has faced stiff resistance from the trade unions and the opposition backing the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the ETCA. They slam it as an economic sell out to India.
ETCA was an issue highlighted by the opposition in the last week's five-day protest march.
Sinha said the visit of the Lanka's International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama to India was very successful and the keenness to move forward was palpable on both the sides.
Sinha struck chord with Wickremesinghe when he said that Sri Lanka needed to take advantage of its proximity to India by linking into value chains and supply chains.