Nationalists wary of Indo-Lanka defence talks amidst secret MoUs

Top spokesman for the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) Dr. Wasantha Bandara yesterday (09) said that even two months after Sri Lanka entered into a Defence MoU with India, the Parliament, the country’s supreme legislative body, was yet to be informed about any of its contents.

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

Dr. Bandara found fault with the Opposition for not vigorously campaigning for the release of the seven MoUs, finalised during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo in early April. Those who represent the current Parliament seemed to be ready to go blindly with India, Dr. Bandara said, urging them to take a fresh look at the developing situation.

Responding to The Island queries, the civil society activist said that a top Indian defence delegation recently visited Colombo where the entire gamut of defence matters was discussed while the National People’s Power (NPP) government kept the Opposition in the dark.

The Indian delegation, led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, last week separately met Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (retd.) Aruna Jayasekara and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (retd). Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha attended both meetings.

The Defence Ministry here quoted Singh as having reiterated India's commitment to maintaining close and friendly relationship with Sri Lanka and further enhancement of defence and security cooperation, contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region dur ing his meeting with AVM Thuyakontha.