Defence pact with India affects Sri Lanka’s non aligned foreign policy - Opposition MP

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

While highlighting that signing of a defence pact with India will affect Sri Lanka’s non aligned foreign policy, Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara yesterday called for a debate on the pacts which was signed with India recently.   

MP Jayasekara urged the government to submit all agreements which were recently signed with India and all the agreements with China as well so that a debate in all international agreements which Sri Lanka signed could be debated in Parliament.   

“We are stunned by the government’s recent action to sign several agreements with India without initiating a dialogue with other party leaders, professionals. Therefore we request the government to submit all agreements which it had signed with India and China,” MP Jayasekara told Parliament.   

“It is compulsory to make Parliament aware of the agreements which have been signed with India which is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour. The government’s policy has been to oppose all agreements which are signed without following transparency. The JVP has always rated such agreements as ones which betray the nation. We would have been able to state our stand if transparency was followed during that time. Also, the President had assured that no agreements would be signed with any country without following a transparent procedure. Also, this government does not have a mandate to sign any agreement with any country without following a transparent procedure,” he said.   

“Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike always followed a non aligned foreign policy. She followed this policy when dealing with the Indo - China and Indo - Pakistan conflicts in the early 1970s. Sri Lanka has to develop a friendship with all nations and show enmity to none,” he added.   

“Any agreements which are signed do not become law if it is not approved by a majority in Parliament. Also any international agreement which is important where the economy is concerned has to be approved by a two thirds majority underArticle 157 of the constitution,” he also said.