Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

SOFA only if terms are agreeable to us-Ruwan

28 June 2019 08:29 am - 1     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka will sign the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US only if the terms of the agreement are favourable to Sri Lanka, State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Mr. Wijewardene said this in response to questions raised by the opposition regarding the SOFA agreement due to be signed with the US during the emergency debate in parliament last evening.

He was referring to the remarks made by Opposition MP Susantha Punchinilame who said the US had already marked out the lands it wants using its modern capabilities.

Disagreeing with the MP, however, Mr. Wijewardene said Sri Lanka will not hand over any lands to the US and will also not allow the setting up of military camps by US forces.

He explained that the agreement was still at the negotiation stage. Mr. Wijewardene said it would be possible to lift the state of emergency in a month.

However, he said Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake was correct in saying that there could be lone-wolf attacks in the future and as such the country needs to be on constant alert to detect and neutralise any such threats.

He said the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) has been eliminated. “NTJ leader Zahran Hashim was killed in the suicide attacks while other members of his family also killed themselves in Kalmunai,” he recalled. He said the last member of NTJ, Naufer, is already in custody. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 1

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Nihal Jinadasa Friday, 28 June 2019 11:02 AM

    The General Public never wanted the Govt., to relax the alertness in the security of the Country but you all wiped out everything on the advice of NGO lackys. nj


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H