Omar Ayub - Chairman of ECC
Pakistan Ministry of Finance ( MoF) has advised the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) to seek Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approval for establishing a Defence Credit line facility for Sri Lanka, before starting negotiations and finalising terms and conditions.
Sri Lanka is considered one of the largest markets for Pakistan produced military hardware. However, in recent years business between the countries has been constrained due to the economic situation on the island. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the island nation last year, where he was courted by accused war criminal and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Several memorandums of understanding were signed including one which committed to the Credit line for the Sri Lankan military being created. The Ministry of Finance in Pakistan has now asked the Ministry of Defence Production, to seek permission from the Economic Coordination Committee to establish the defence credit line, as international confidence in the Rajapaksa's regime hold of the economy has been severely damaged.
Pakistan has looked to deepen its bilateral relations with Sri Lanka despite ongoing human rights concerns found on the island, directed at the Tamil and Muslim communities. During his visit last year Pakistan's Prime Minister failed to heed calls from human rights organisations to address ongoing abuses against Muslims on the island, forced cremations being a poignant issue. Last year the country also hosted the head of Sri Lanka's army, and accused war criminal, Shavendra Silva. In that period the Sri Lankan government had also proposed banning the face veil and the closure of over 1,000 Islamic schools and then banned 11 Islamic organisations which include charities and student organisations.
In Amnesty International’s submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, they highlight a pattern of violence and discrimination in Sri Lanka targeted towards Muslims following the end of the armed conflict. They note anti-Muslim riots in 2013, 2014, 2018, and violent reprisals against Muslims following the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. “Following each of these riots targeting the Muslim community, the police arrested suspected perpetrators, but no convictions”, they note.
Read more at the Daily Mirror
