PCOI needed to look into FTA with Singapore: PNF

Referring to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Singapore, the Professionals’ National Front (PNF) urged President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) similar to the one used to inquire into the Bond issue, to look into the need for it.

PNF Secretary Kapila Perera on Wednesday (18) said the FTA with Sri Lanka and Singapore was detrimental to the country and added that the recent debate on the issue in Parliament after it was signed proved this. He also said as per the recommendations of World Trade Organization (WTO), such an FTA should be referred to Parliament before it is signed, if indeed it was a transparent agreement.“we condemn the move to have only a short debate on the FTA despite it been a matter of national interest.we also condemn the response of Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama in Parliament and his attempt to mislead Parliament,” he said.

“He was accusing others instead of giving an answer when it was revealed in Parliament that this FTA did not receive Cabinet approval. President Sirisena should appoint a commission to look into this matter,” he added.

He said the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry had received Cabinet approval for a fraudulent trade policy which was tabled in Parliament.

“President Sirisena should initiate a proper trade policy and establish an authority to make trade decisions which should be announced by a gazette notification,” he said.