Singapore FTA: SL given visas to 242,000 foreign workers: Lakshman Yapa

16 January 2019 12:15 am

MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said yesterday Sri Lanka has already given visas to some 242,000 foreign employees and the experts report on Singapore FTA has said this number could increase through the FTA.

He said the experts committee which studied the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) has verified the concerns expressed over the previous months.

“What we have said had been accepted by the experts committee which said our market would not be expanded by the SLSFTA. Through the Board of Investment (BOI), we have already given visas to 242,000 foreigners for investments and industries. The report by the expert committee says many more may come to Sri Lanka through the SLSFTA,” he said.

According to the report, he said the fields of engineering, dentistry, labour and architecture could be open up to foreigners.

“Any foreigner who holds a Singapore visa would be able to visit Sri Lanka through the SLSFTA to work. This trade agreement, which may benefit only one percent towards SL, should be annulled,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

 

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