Sri Lanka PM will not discuss CEPA on Indian visit: Int’l Trade Minister  

Sep 14, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will not discuss or sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, during the prime minister’s official visit to India, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said in a statement. Commenting further on CEPA Samarawickrama says: “Entering into trade agreements with other countries is not far-fetched considering the modern world trend. But we have to re-think this.” “However, the present government will not enter into trade agreements based on just the economic or trade impact for the country,” he said. “Agreements signed with any country in the future will encompass, investment, technology, education, industrial development and culture, not only trade and economy. Be it India or any other country, when we enter into international trade agreements we will consider these facts.” He said the government will not entertain trade deals of the sort that swell personal bank accounts which took place over last decade.