Activists dismiss Government explanation on FTA

Colombo (News 1st) - The Government Information Department has issued a communique on the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. The communique issued did not have a header and did not contain the signature of the Director General of the Government Information Department, Attorney-at-Law Sudarshana Gunawardena. When News 1st made inquiries about the matter from the Government Information Department, they stated that the communique was issued based on the request of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade. It could be seen that the communique has been released to counter the arguments brought forward by academics and professionals who have been criticizing the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. Nalaka Jayaweera an Activist with regards to the Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA states that the Government Information Department made a fake document on the 16th July to make the new trade policy the National trade policy. He states that this is clearly mentioned by Minister Malik Samarawickrama and it is mentioned in the hansard on 17th July 2018. He also states that there is no mention of a meeting that was held on the 2nd January 2018 in the communique. Attorney-at-law Kanishka Vitharana states that what can be gathered through this document is that it is misleading the public. He states that when compared to the explanation provided by the government, the cabinet and Minister Malik Samarawickrama, the statements are contradictory.

CLINICAL AND NUCLEAR WASTE THROUGH FTA

One of the serious allegations against the Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA is that waste including clinical waste and nuclear waste could be brought into the country through it. Convening a media briefing at Sirikotha, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva refuted those claims. Though the minister refutes these claims, activists charge that there are provisions in the FTA that allow waste to be dumped in the country. It is not clear as to how the waste will be disposed of. Gomi Senadheera who is a former director General at the Department of commerce speaking to News1st noted that last July, the worlds largest garbage importer China notified WTO that they are going to ban the importation of 24 types of waste. He states that since then the whole market for garbage and the world trade of garbage has spun out of control. Gomi Senadheera goes on to state that with the Chinese ban other countries who are dealing with garbage such as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam the roads were flooded with garbage. He states that in response they have started restricting or banning the import of garbage. He states that Sri Lanka through the FTA had agreed to set up waste disposal services and that this means as a Nation we have given a commitment that we will allow Singaporean companies to come to Sri Lanka and set up waste disposal services.

TRANSLATIONS of FTA

When the debate pertaining to the bond scam was to be taken up in parliament, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran requested for a Tamil translation of the bond commission report and delayed the debate from taking place. However, Sinhala or Tamil translations of the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement have not been presented to the Parliament as yet. How did the Parliament Minsters not consider this fact? Does this not prove the close affiliations of MP M. A. Sumanthiran and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe? The President appointed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. The general public is not satisfied with the actions that have been taken with regard to the report that was issued. The president should take a strong stance on these developments.