Foreign Minister defends India pacts, sidesteps transparency demand

In a press conference marked by both clarity and pointed omission, Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, yesterday offered a robust defence of two controversial bilateral agreements with India but conspicuously avoided committing to tabling their full texts in Parliament.

- BY SANATH NANAYAKKARE

The press conference held at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo yesterday. From left: Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism.

The minister's appearance, billed as a year-opening briefing, took a sharp turn when questioned on the strategic implications of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Agreement and Sri Lanka's acceptance of the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

“No Indian military camps on our soil”

Responding in Sinhala to a question posed in English, Minister Herath moved first to allay what he suggested were widespread misapprehensions about the defence pact.

“This agreement is especially for data and information exchange purposes regarding drug trafficking, drug mafias, human trafficking, and any terrorist activities that could threaten regional security and peace,” Herath stated.

He emphasised that it would also facilitate “various support related to the defence sector.”