The Sri Lankan government has not taken a decision to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) or the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the United States, Government Media Spokesman and State Minister of Investment Promotion Keheliya Rambukwella said Wednesday.
Before signing such agreements, the agreement should be presented to Parliament and approval should be obtained from the Attorney General’s Department, he said.
Speaking at a special press conference held yesterday (12) at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat in Colombo, the Minster said the government would not sign any agreement that would be unfavourable to the country.
“If any part of this country will become under the control of a foreign power under any agreement then the government will not sign such an agreement. We believe the SOFA and ACSA include such conditions and if that’s the case we will not sign those agreements. Sri Lanka may be a small country but it’s a sovereign nation,” he said.
Speaking further, Mr. Rambukwella said the government is taking steps to establish a majority parliament without extremists. “We believe that we are a group capable of achieving the best solution at the best time. We strongly believe that we have the opportunity and capability to establish a majority government, parliament and a country without extremism,” he said.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
