FTA has weaknesses, President tells Singapore PM

President Maithripala Sirisena met Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday afternoon as part of his two-day official visit to the island city-state - Pic by Sudath Silva 

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday told Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong that the country expects to carry out revisions to the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries, to rectify shortcomings from the Sri Lankan side. 

President Sirisena, who held bilateral talks with Loong yesterday during his two-day visit to Singapore, emphasised the importance of working together on the issue in the future, a statement released by the President’s Media Unit said.

During their discussions, the two leaders also agreed to further strengthen trade, tourism, and industrial relations between the two countries. 

Further, President Sirisena thanked Prime Minister Lee for the support extended to Sri Lankans engaged in different fields in Singapore, and appreciated the welfare of the Sri Lankan students engaged in higher education.

Noting that the threat of drugs, which is a major challenge not only to Sri Lanka, but to the entire region, Prime Minister Lee extended the fullest support of the Government of Singapore to the drug eradication programs implemented by Sri Lanka, the statement said. 

Further, President Sirisena also met a number of other dignitaries, including Estonian Minister of Environment and President of the Fourth United Nations Environmental Assembly Siim Valmar Kiisler.

Minister Kiisler, appreciating the work done by President Sirisena, said that he has set a model to the world on environmental conservation. Appreciating the suggestions made by President Sirisena at the Forum yesterday, Minister said that the proposals would be of international significance.

The President appreciated the support given by the United Nations to Sri Lanka in the effort to protect the environment and in the face of challenges that arise from climatic changes. The President briefed Minister Kiisler on the strict rules and regulations of the Sri Lankan Government to protect the environment, the program of the Sri Lankan Government for the preservation of the environment, and the assistance of the armed forces for the protection of the environment, the statement said.

Attention was drawn to developing existing bilateral ties between Estonia and Sri Lanka in new fields.