SLPP does about-face on SOFA and MCC

 MP Keheliya Rambukwella and MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa addressing the press conference yesterday  - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

• Met US Ambassador to discuss mutual benefits of SOFA and MCC
• Says international agreement will be submitted to Parliament, AG Dept. before signing 
• ACSA to be revisited 
• Says Hambantota Port agreement to be revisited

By Nuwan Senarathna 

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said they would consider signing a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement under their Government if they can reach terms which are beneficial for both countries.

Speaking to media at the Mandarina Colombo, SLPP spokesman MP Keheliya Rambukwella said they would only get into international agreements that are mutually beneficial for both countries, and pledged to follow a transparent process before signing any international agreement.

“We met the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka on two occasions. We have requested their agreements, and, unfortunately, such agreement has not been placed before the Parliament. Primarily what we need is to have this agreement, to get a basic idea on that,” he said.

He noted that the SLPP had discussed the benefits of SOFA and MCC with several foreign ministers to study the effects of the two agreements. He pointed out that according to their studies, countries that have signed the two agreements found they were beneficial for their economies. “Unless it is mutually beneficial for both countries, we will never get into any international agreement. We will have to go through those two agreements first, which we have requested. We might be a very small economy but still, we should be respected with equal rights,” Rambukwella said under a SLPP Government, they would submit all international agreements to Parliament and the Attorney General’s Department before signing such agreements. He pointed out that the public has a right to know the terms and conditions of any agreement that the Government is signing.

Referring to the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA), Rambukwella said they would revisit the agreement, and try to gain mutual benefits from the agreement.

He also noted they would revisit the Hambantota Port agreement, and discuss with the Chinese government to harness mutual benefits. “Fundamentals of the agreement will not be changed, but the manner it was implemented may have to be discussed, to gain benefits for both countries.”

Rambukwella said a non-aligned foreign policy will be followed by the SLPP, and insisted they would maintain a close relationship with all countries in the region, as well as the rest of the international community.