1 week Ago By Sahan Weerasooriya
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament yesterday that he would consult with other ministries before informing the House whether the government would present copies of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) it had entered into with the Indian government. Herath said so in response to a question raised by Tamil Progressive Alliance leader, MP Mano Ganesan. Minister Herath said he needed time to discuss the matter with the relevant ministries and, after consultations, would inform the House of the government’s future course of action regarding the MoUs.
Ganesan said he had no objections to the government entering into MoUs with India. “In fact, we have promoted the idea of strengthening bilateral relations with India. It was you who opposed such agreements when you were in the opposition.
It is good that this government has entered into agreements with India. However, the people have a right to know about their contents. Can the Minister tell this House whether he will table them here for the benefit of MPs?” Ganesan queried.
Ganesan raised this question shortly after Minister Herath made a ministerial statement to the House regarding the progress of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka last week. Minister Herath said Sri Lanka had greatly benefited from Modi’s visit and assured that the government had always kept national interests in mind when entering into agreements with other countries. SJB Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera also referred to Article 157 of the Constitution, which requires the government to obtain a two-thirds approval in Parliament for agreements entered into with other countries.
Minister Herath responded, stating that this provision applied only to treaties, not to MoUs. “The treaty we hope to enter into with the United Arab Emirates and India to develop an energy hub wil require the stipulations outlined in Article 157. However, none of the other MoUs signed with India fall under this provision.
” By Saman Indrajith.
