SL SHOULD FURTHER IMPROVE ECONOMIC TIES WITH INDIA
Great economic opportunities for SL from trade relations with India suggests think tank
“Sri Lanka should develop increased trade relations with India without any further delay to ride the massive economic g rowth in that century” a think tank says.
Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa, Chief Executive Officer of ‘LIRNEASIA’, a think tank based in Sri Lanka, says that Sri Lanka should not miss the enor mous economic op- portunities available in India now emerging as a moder n economic powerhouse. Prof. Samarajeewa said that, even for imports, India would be the best place.
“From India, we can import products at a low cost. Today, India is rising economically. India needs its neighboring countries to g row along with that. India also wants a peaceful neighbour. We have to seize the opportunity. It is not economically advisable for us to delay the proposed trade ag reement with India,” he said.
Economist- tur ned - UNP National List MP Dr. Harsha de Silva also said that the gover nment should consider the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India with a positive note at this hour.
However, he said that there could be grievances from certain quarters in Sri Lanka re garding liberalized trade between the two countries.
“First of all, the gover nment should place this document before the public. Then, we can discuss its pluses and minuses in a constructive manner. Yet, we should look at it positively. The opportunities for Sri Lanka will be enor mous in India given the massive growth there” he said.
Spokesman of India’s High Commission in Colombo Birendra Yadav said that his country needs its neighbours to be prosperous and peaceful. He said that his Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh clearly articulated it in his address to the SAARC summit recently.
In his speech, the Indian Prime Minister stressed the need for increased trade, connectivity and people to people interactions between the countries in South Asia.