The United National Party today called on the government to reveal information regarding the discussions held between minister Prof. GL Peiris and the Indian Prime Minister, during the former’s recent visit to the neighboring nation.
The Minister of External had met Manmohan Singh on January 23 in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 8th Session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission.
A joint press release issued by the foreign ministries of India and Sri Lanka had said that both nations had agreed to encourage closer economic and trade linkages between all stakeholders and that agreements on Combating International Terrorism and Illicit Drug Trafficking; and Revised Double Taxation Avoidance were signed.
However, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake stated that the government has not made a clear statement regarding the discussions.
If in fact these agreements were the topic of the discussion, the government has a responsibility to make a clear statement to parliament and the country regarding the matters discussed, he said. “Why are they hiding this?”
Therefore we demand from the government to inform parliament as to what was discussed between Prof. GL Peiris, the Indian Prime Minister and officials, what agreements were reached
“There is no need to visit India spending public funds and drink a tea and come,” he said.
