The Sri Lanka – Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) signed in January this year can be amended within a year if it has any detrimental effect on the country and the economy, a senior minister of the government said.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe speaking at a media briefing held at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headquarters Thursday said that a period of one year has been specified in the agreement, for amendments to be incorporated.
The Minister said the expert committee appointed by the President to study the SLSFTA is due to submit its report within two months and if the committee finds any clause disadvantages to the country, they can be amended.
President Maithripala Sirisena after considering the views expressed to him by various parties regarding the agreement, earlier this month appointed a five-member committee to study the SLSFTA and to submit a report to him within two months.
The expert committee report will be tabled before the Cabinet of Ministers and in Parliament, the Minister said.
The Minister said the President, as a leader who pays attention to the citizens, appointed the Expert Committee to study the agreement, when various parties began spreading incorrect interpretations among the public, seeking political mileage.
He said the President has instructed the Committee to undertake a comprehensive study of the Trade Agreement and see whether there are any matters detrimental to the country or the economic program and note it in the report since there is the opportunity to amend this agreement within one year.
Responding to media questions on the charge that the SLSFTA was signed without cabinet’s approval, Minister Samarasinghe said the agreement was first sent to the Attorney General and it was presented to the Cabinet with the endorsement of the Attorney General. It was thereafter signed with the approval of the Cabinet. There was no requirement to present the Agreement to Parliament.
Earlier Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema in parliament said the Cabinet on 12th January 2018 approved the agreement submitted and granted approval for him to sign it during the visit of the Singapore Prime Minister on the 23rd of January 2018.
