15 June 2011 02:04 pm
By Yohan Perera
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) today urged the government to transform the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India into a win-win situation for both countries and not to approve the Agreement it in its present form.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the trade agreement should benefit both countries equally because at present India is at an advantage when it came to trade between the two countries.
He said government should consider the sentiments expressed by local industrialists and accused the External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris of having agreed sign to approve the CEPA in its present form when he visited India recently. Mr. Attanayake said this was clear in the joint statement between Sri Lanka and India.
He stressed the need to safeguard the diplomatic relations with India