Govt. to sign SOFA agreement with America

By Dayaseeli Liyanage   

Discussions are underway between Sri Lanka and USA to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to exclude the American soldiers from the local jurisdiction for offences they commit within the host country, the JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Rathnayaka said.   

After the agreement is signed American soldiers charged for any offence committed in the host country should be prosecuted under the American law, he said. In addition goods imported for the use of American security units will be exempt from tax.   

The agreement signed earlier to provide facilities for the American war operations expired in 2017 but the government has decided to renew the agreement.   
Authorities in Sri Lanka is taking all the steps possible to sign the agreement secretly.   

These agreements are intended to make Sri Lanka an American colony, the parliamentarian said.   

After the agreement is signed American soldiers charged for any offence committed in the host country should be prosecuted under the American law, he said. In addition goods imported for the use of American security units will be exempt from tax.   

The agreement signed earlier to provide facilities for the American war operations expired in 2017 but the government has decided to renew the agreement.   
Authorities in Sri Lanka is taking all the steps possible to sign the agreement secretly.