Opposition, media demand details of defence MoU with India

Govt. asks critics to use the country's Right To Information (RTI) Act

- BY MEERA SIRINIVASAN

Amid persisting questions from the political Opposition and media about Sri Lanka’s recent defence sector Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India, the government has asked those seeking more information to use the country’s Right To Information (RTI) Act.

Addressing a media briefing earlier this week, Cabinet spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said some of the contents of the MoU cannot be released without India’s consent. The political Opposition, including the main Opposition bloc Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People’s Power), has accused the Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration of “secrecy” and demanded that the MoUs signed with India be tabled in Parliament.

The MoU pertaining to the defence sector was one of seven signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6. Others spanned areas such as energy co-operation, digital initiatives, and health. During the visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told presspersons that the defence sector MoU is an “umbrella agreement” providing a framework to pursue ongoing defence sector cooperation in a more “structured” manner.

In his statement during the visit, PM Modi said he was “grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India's interests.” “We believe that we have shared security interests. The security of both countries is interconnected and co-dependent,” he said.