SOFA, ACSA agreements... We will not agree to anything that violates SL’s sovereignty

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreements (ACSA) will only be signed if the USA agrees to the points raised by Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.   

The Prime Minister expressed this sentiment in response to questions raised by JVP MP Anura Dissanayake on SOFA and Joint Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardene on ACSA agreement with the USA in the House last morning.   

“Government will not agree to anything that would violate Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Prime Minister said.   

“There is no question about setting up US military camps within Sri Lanka as it is not possible considering the military equipment held by USA. The aircraft carrier Ronald Regan carried 90 aircraft. There is no location in Sri Lanka which can handle 90 aircraft. Besides troupes are transported by modern helicopters. They don’t bring troops like the way the Portuguese brought troupes to Ceylon in the past,” he said   

At the same time, the Premier said there is no SOFA agreement at the moment though media is claiming there is such. “ I request the media to hand me over a copy of this agreement, if such a document is existing. 

It will be a false one, if it exists. I shall then get the police to investigate on it,” the Prime Minister said.   

Also he said the US does not have to set up bases in Sri Lanka as it already has bases in Japan, South Korea and Diego Garcia.   

Meanwhile, Premier Wickremesinghe said the USA has increased contact points in the new proposed draft for ACSA. These include Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force Head Quarters. 
“We cannot do anything about this, but Sri Lanka had proposed that the USA should deal with the Ministry of Defence.   

Further he said that SOFA agreements which USA had signed with countries is different to each other.   

There is no question about setting up US military camps within Sri Lanka