India’s High Commissioner Y K Sinha told reporters that a proposed economic agreement between India and Sri Lanka was proposed by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, as Sinhala opposition to the move continues.
Mr Sinha told reporters that the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) proposal was put forward last year and defended the move.
“The ETCA was proposed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe when he went to India September last year,” Mr Sinha said. “Since then our officials have met and now just a few days ago, we have got a draft of the framework, which is the outline of the agreement from the government of Sri Lanka.”
The proposal came after Sri Lanka repeatedly rejected moves to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, which Mr Sinha said “is [now] a dirty word here”.
He went on to assure that the agreement would benefit "the people of both countries" amidst sustained opposition to the proposal.
Amongst those opposed is Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Joint Opposition, who slammed the agreement earlier this month. Mr Sinha however, responded by saying his comments were “amusing”.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe meanwhile told reporters previously that those opposed to the ECTA are “traitors”. The prime minister has faced strong opposition to signing a bi-lateral trade agreement with India and enhancing further trade ties with the neighbouring nation.
See our earlier posts:
Those opposed to India trade agreement are 'traitors' says Sri Lanka Prime Minister (20 Feb 2016)
India framework agreement not finalised says Sri Lanka minister (25 Jan 2016)
Sri Lanka to finalise India trade agreement by mid-2016 announces ministry (30 Dec 2015)
See our feature:
Sri Lanka’s Indophobia (07 Aug 2015)
See also:
Doctors' union to protest Indian 'invasion' of Sri Lankan job market (22 Dec 2015)
Sri Lanka discusses economic agreement with India (22 December 2015)
Sri Lanka rejects bridge linking Tamil Nadu and North-East (19 December 2015)
‘Our government will never sign the CEPA’ says Ranil (09 December 2015)
Ranil denies discussing CEPA trade deal and India-Sri Lanka bridge (23 September 2015)
Palk Strait bridge will make Sri Lanka an Indian state – PHU (21 September 2015)
Talks on India-Sri Lanka bridge to commence in October (21 Sep 2015)
Sri Lankan govt denies discussing CEPA with India (21 Sep 2015)
Opposition to CEPA mounts (13 Sep 2015)
Plans for Palk Strait bridge aimed at 'annexing' Sri Lanka to India - Sinhala collective
(07 August 2015)
India still awaiting Sri Lanka's approval for rail link (03 August 2015)
Trade will improve if Tamil issue solved – India (27 July 2014)
Sri Lanka's national federation warns that UNP will divide country (09 July 2015)
Sinhalese organisations slam CM Wigneswaran (14 July 2015)
India working on project to build road to Sri Lanka with ADB support (09 July 2015)
No discussions held on India's road-rail link submission at ADB says Sri Lanka (20 June 2015)
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