BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHAT IS PROPOSED BY USA ON AGREEMENTS
The Government of Sri Lanka has entered or is in the process of finalising three agreements with the USA which will have a direct and irreversible impact on the sovereignty of this country. The contents of these agreements are not presented to the cabinet or the parliament and there is a serious doubt whether even the President is aware of the contents of these agreements.
Apart from this in order to achieve and facilitate the objects of the agreements, the Government has planned to introduce several legislative pieces and at least one of them has already been implemented.
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Following are the agreements/treaties/compacts above referred to;
- SOFA-status of Forces Agreement.
We do not have the final version of this agreement, but our source has given us a copy of the original proposal sent by the USA embassy in Colombo.
According to that following would be the main clauses/features of SOFA
- Award diplomatic immunity to US armed forces and Civilian employees of the U.S department of Defence. (Stated as Personnel in the agreement)
- They be permitted to wear uniforms while performing official duties and permit to carry arms.
- They shall not be subject to taxation.
- U.S Ministry of Defence and the said Personnel be permitted to import, export and use any personal property, equipment, supplies, material, technology, training or services in connection with their activities according to the agreement, without any inspection, licence, other restrictions and or duties.
- Vessels, Air crafts, vehicles can enter the territory without any restriction/inspection
6 Licences issued by the central Government or Federal Governments of USA to be recognised and the contractors too are to be granted the similar immunity.
- They can operate their own telecommunication system
- ACSA-Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement
We do not have a copy of this with us. Previous ACSA was in 2007 which expired in 2017. According to “NEWS FIRST 2019/02/22” Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka has admitted in parliament that it has been “Renewed on 4th August 2017”.But up to date it has not been made available even to the members of the Government
- MCC Compact.-Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact
Still we do not have a copy of this. But according to our source, by this proposed compact, an exclusive economic corridor is to be created linking Colombo and Trincomalee port. The exclusive economic corridor will have about 1.2 Million Acres of land and ultimately controlled by USA.
- The statues concerning this issue.
(1) Exchange Control Act has already been enacted and is in force.
(2) State Land Bank Act (Bill)
It is proposed to identify and survey state lands and transfer them to a proposed Land Bank and then the Land Bank can dispose them as it desires.
(3) State Land (Special Provisions) Act (Bill)
It is proposed by this act to remove all restrictions on existing and future land grants so that the grantees can dispose as they wish. This act to be in force for a period of 7 years and totally contrary to the concept of alienation of State Lands.
