SLFP to discuss budget proposals and ECTA

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will meet and discuss the budget proposals and the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) between India and Sri Lanka.

SLFP member and State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that President Maithripala Sirisena, as head of the SLFP, would discuss the budget and ECTA proposals with the party.

He said that once the views of the party members were obtained they would be discussed with others in the Government in order to reach a compromise on the budget proposals and the ECTA agreement.

The State Minister said that ECTA will be signed only after it is approved by Cabinet and discussed in Parliament.

He said that if there was anything not suitable for the country in the ECTA agreement then it would be raised by Parliament by the representatives of the people.

Abeywardena also said that the Opposition had no right to say the Government would be toppled in January next year.

He said a Government could be removed only through an election and not through any shortcuts. (Colombo Gazette)