President to appoint committee to review S'pore FTA: GMOA

23 May 2018 07:01 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Maithripala Sirisena had agreed to appoint an economic committee headed by Chief Economist Prof. Lalith Samarakoon to look into the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) inked with Singapore, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today said.

GMOA Spokesman Dr Samantha Ananda told the Daily Mirror that President Sirisena had guaranteed to appoint said committee during a discussion held on Tuesday with the GMOA-membership over the FTA with Singapore.

The FTA ran into a storm after the GMOA protested against it and created a controversy.

“Accordingly, the economic committee is expected to look into this matter and the parties concerned can submit their views to this committee.

“President Sirisena has also assured to revoke the FTA if it would be proven detrimental to the country following the findings of the committee,” he said.

He said the GMOA had also stressed the need to get such trade agreements approved by people through a referendum and added that obtaining the two-thirds majority in Parliament would not suffice to enter into such agreements.

He also said the country should have a National Policy on International Trade agreements prior to entering into such FTAs.

“We have informed President Sirisena that the opinion of the professional bodies including the lawyers and engineers have not been taken before entering into the FTA with Singapore despite it being an agreement to open the Service Sector of the country to the world,” he said.

He said Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry Secretary Chandani Wijewardana, who was also a party to the discussion, had revealed that steps had been taken to enter into few more trade agreements with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)

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Comments - 9

Rohantha Wednesday, 23 May 2018 07:11 PM

Why don't the GMOA ask for a ministerial post in the cabinet. So Padadeniya can become the Minister of All Subjects.or may be they ask the president to change constitution of sri Lanka to appoint GMOA president as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Dee Wednesday, 23 May 2018 07:45 PM

Will that also change? Nothing good happens in this country.

malij Thursday, 24 May 2018 07:01 AM

Wanted Urgently! A President with a back bone.

Man Thursday, 24 May 2018 11:16 AM

Ranil Wickramasingha?

Man Thursday, 24 May 2018 09:17 AM

Thank you very much, Honourable President and our warm wishes to the GMOA for being vigilant.

Don Thursday, 24 May 2018 09:42 AM

GMOA is dancing to the tune of Gota and JVP

Ideas Thursday, 24 May 2018 10:32 AM

What a marvelous plan to appoint a committee,what can identify who is fooling who,this is good lesson,to all and find the end of this for the betterment of our nation. Please make quick result.

Ceylon Thursday, 24 May 2018 10:43 AM

This fool appointing commisions and commitees and results are nothing.

Jagath Thursday, 24 May 2018 04:38 PM

The solution to every problem in SL is a committee. We have more committees now than people in this country.

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President to appoint committee to review S'pore FTA: GMOA

Comments - 9

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