BusinessProfessional groups in Sri Lanka, engaged as key stakeholders in discussions with the Government on proposed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India, China and Singapore, on Monday urged the visiting Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong not to sign the FTA, as scheduled by the Sri Lanka Government. Thus, he said, “… with great respect we sincerely request you, not to sign the proposed Singapore - Sri Lanka FTA as confirmed by Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers”. It is no doubt that without such any party can incur losses beyond any expectation,” the letter to the Singapore PM said. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka maintained that he will sought the approval from the Parliament before signing of any international agreement. But interestingly Sri Lankan Parliament is scheduled to sit only from January 23 onwards and to date there is no such agreement before the Parliament,” Mr. Jayaweera added.

Source: Sunday Times January 22, 2018 04:07 UTC