Lankan Ranger
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Tensions rise between Sri Lanka and India ahead of June meeting
Official talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and Lankan Tamil parties will commence in June. These talks, aimed at finding solutions for Tamils, will commence once the official meeting of heads of state of the two countries is held on June 8 and 9.
However, June 8 & 9 meeting between Colombo -Delhi heads-of-states' will be tense, news reports in Colombo revealed today.
Last week's street protests in Colombo against the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) agreement with India are the reason for the expected tense atmosphere during the official meet. These anti-CEPA protests were led by service sector business leaders in Colombo.
News reports promptly said that these anti-CEPA protests were backed by no less than Colombo administration itself. AFP reported that President Rajapakse 'met the demonstrators at his tightly-guarded Temple Trees residence in Colombo and vowed he would not enter any pact that was harmful to the island's economic interests.'
Among the placards and slogans in the street protests were Indian trade invasion of Sri Lanka and " India - Do not create problems in Sri Lanka. New Delhi, shocked by learning that the protests had the backing of Colombo, is reportedly 'highly disappointed' by Sri Lanka's attitude.
New Delhi's thorough disappointment will invariably be 'conveyed' during the June 8 & 9 official meeting between President Rajapakse and Premier Manmohan Singh, leading to the possible 'tense' atmosphere in the meeting, reports revealed.
The Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 1998 giving tariff concessions to both countries in their bi-lateral 'goods' trade. But the FTA did not include bi-lateral exchange of 'services' such as banking. The CEPA agreement provides for the export of 'services' to each other.
But CEPA's implementation in Sri Lanka has been withheld for the last two years due to opposition from Sri Lankan service sector business leaders. As the implementation of CEPA neared, business personalities in Colombo took to streets last week with anti-CEPA slogans.
Tensions rise between Colombo and Delhi ahead of June meeting | Asian Tribune
Official talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and Lankan Tamil parties will commence in June. These talks, aimed at finding solutions for Tamils, will commence once the official meeting of heads of state of the two countries is held on June 8 and 9.
However, June 8 & 9 meeting between Colombo -Delhi heads-of-states' will be tense, news reports in Colombo revealed today.
Last week's street protests in Colombo against the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) agreement with India are the reason for the expected tense atmosphere during the official meet. These anti-CEPA protests were led by service sector business leaders in Colombo.
News reports promptly said that these anti-CEPA protests were backed by no less than Colombo administration itself. AFP reported that President Rajapakse 'met the demonstrators at his tightly-guarded Temple Trees residence in Colombo and vowed he would not enter any pact that was harmful to the island's economic interests.'
Among the placards and slogans in the street protests were Indian trade invasion of Sri Lanka and " India - Do not create problems in Sri Lanka. New Delhi, shocked by learning that the protests had the backing of Colombo, is reportedly 'highly disappointed' by Sri Lanka's attitude.
New Delhi's thorough disappointment will invariably be 'conveyed' during the June 8 & 9 official meeting between President Rajapakse and Premier Manmohan Singh, leading to the possible 'tense' atmosphere in the meeting, reports revealed.
The Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 1998 giving tariff concessions to both countries in their bi-lateral 'goods' trade. But the FTA did not include bi-lateral exchange of 'services' such as banking. The CEPA agreement provides for the export of 'services' to each other.
But CEPA's implementation in Sri Lanka has been withheld for the last two years due to opposition from Sri Lankan service sector business leaders. As the implementation of CEPA neared, business personalities in Colombo took to streets last week with anti-CEPA slogans.
Tensions rise between Colombo and Delhi ahead of June meeting | Asian Tribune