Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath reassured Parliament yesterday (18) that the Government has not entered into any agreements with India regarding the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA).
Responding to a query raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara, the Minister dismissed claims that the Government had finalized the ETCA during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent state visit to India. He clarified that discussions with India have been limited to exporting excess electricity under the BIMSTEC economic cooperation framework, a move aimed at generating revenue for Sri Lanka.
“The Government has not engaged in any agreements with India beyond discussions on electricity exports and other mutually beneficial projects. This was explicitly mentioned in the joint statement issued during President Dissanayake’s visit to India,” Minister Herath said.
Addressing concerns about potential adverse impacts of ETCA, the Minister emphasized that no agreements detrimental to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty or economy have been signed.
He also highlighted President Dissanayake’s mandate to develop the country, contrasting it with the lack of a similar public endorsement for former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Minister Herath reiterated the Government’s commitment to transparency and safeguarding national interests in all bilateral and multilateral engagements.
