SLFP's stance on US intervention

Colombo (News 1st): General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekara speaking on the party's stance on US intervention noted that they have now gone beyond the Vienna convention and are allowing any US soldier to carry weapons without any problem in Sri Lanka, and to grant them immunity. He added that when the ACSA was being signed, the President as the head of state and the commander in chief has not been informed and the cabinet of ministers has not been informed. He noted that the government has directly gone ahead, and an official has signed this with the ambassador. Jayasekara noted that this was not discussed at the cabinet and stressed that the President has taken a decision not to sign the SOFA agreement. He added that there is a major issue that has been created as a result of the SOFA which is the involvement of foreign nations especially the US armed forces. He went onto note that the other point is the Millennium Challenge Cooperation. He pointed out that there is a program in place to sign an agreement that would grant Sri Lanka US$ 480 million and if the program is not carried out properly, the US can come out of it at any time. Jayasekara stated that if it happens institutions like the ADB, the IMF and JICA will have issues, they too will have to leave. He stressed that it has been pushed to a place where this can make an impact. He added that the speaker also signs such agreements.  He noted that US$ 27 million was received to develop the parliamentary system in the country. The parliamentarian noted that this is a huge issue as the parliament is an independent institution. Dayasiri Jayasekara noted that he does not think that the President will allow anyone to sign these agreements, be it the SOFA or the MCC. He pointed out that there are only 4 to 5 months remaining for the Presidential election and one must not go into such agreements with the Presidential election around the corner. He noted that the next government should be allowed to decide whether to sign this or not.