Opposition mulling parliamentary proposal on dualism

By Lahiru Pothmulla 

The opposition said yesterday it was mulling to submit a parliamentary proposal making it compulsory to present bilateral agreements such as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in Parliament prior to them being inked. 

Addressing a news briefing held at the office of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), MP Anuradha Jayaratne said the proposal intended to prevent the government from signing agreements detrimental to the country. 

“Through this initiative, we will get the opportunity to make amendments to future treaties. Proposed agreements with the US such as SOFA are detrimental to national security and domestic economy. After all, SOFA is an act of pleasing the US since the government had to lease out the Hambantota  Port to China. Meanwhile, the Trincomalee Harbour will become a central point to the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative of China. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has launched a special operation to complete several tasks in three months. These are ones he hasn’t been able to do in the past four and a half years. Leasing out of ports to the US and signing of agreements are a result of this three-month operation,” he said.