OPA says no to ETCA affecting professionals

28 January 2016 06:42 am

The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) has expressed its concerns over the proposed Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) with India. “The OPA, as the apex body of professionals in the country, is deeply concerned about Sri Lanka’s intended bilateral agreement with India named Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA),” a statement by the OPA said. “The OPA, with 46 associations of professionals of the country, having substantial professional resource in any discipline, is of firm opinion that it is absolutely unnecessary for foreign professional services to be allowed liberally in the country by such a bilateral agreement with any country,” it added. The OPA stressed that such an agreement to bring foreign professional services to the country could be detrimental to the local professional resource base. “Any organisation requiring to hire foreign professional expertise for a particular job function may be allowed on request on acceptable reasons for which no such bilateral country agreement is warranted,” the OPA pointed out.