A local business association has challenged Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over a recent statement that the Sri Lankan government was “seriously looking at fast-tracking” negotiations with India on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), reports The Island.
Chairman of the Maubima Lanka Foundation, Ariyaseela Wickremanayake, wrote to the prime minister stating “the CEPA is a very serious threat to the interests of local businessmen” and urged Sri Lanka not to sign the agreement.
“The Maubima Lanka Foundation, an umbrella organisation for the protection of interests of local business community, has opposed the CEPA and demands that Sri Lanka should not become a signatory to the agreement in its present form," continued the letter.
Mr Wickremanayake also called on the UPFA to oppose the deal, noting that several rounds of talks had already been held with political leaders where they rejected CEPA.
The letter comes after the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) stated they would “active oppose” the deal last week.
See more in our feature: Sri Lanka’s Indophobia (07 Aug 2015)
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