JO spreading false stories about deal with US: Mangala

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – The disinformation, misinformation, fabrication and absolute lies spread by the joint opposition on three highly beneficial proposed agreements to Sri Lanka to be signed with the US are derived on sheer jealousy, political hypocrisy and vengeance, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday.

The Status Of Force Agreement (SOFA), Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) are not new to Sri Lanka but for the political ghosts (avatar) in the JO, the problem is that this government has renewed these agreements with added benefits which the previous regimes failed to obtain and the friendship, cooperation and good name earned by this government among the global community and in particular with the US, EU and other developed countries, Minister Samaraweera charged.

Addressing a news briefing at his Ministry last afternoon, Minister Samaraweera said the ACSA was signed in 2007 for ten years when Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was the Defense Secretary and Robert Blake was the US envoy in Sri Lanka. The MCC agreement was signed in 2004 when late Lakshman Kadirgamar was serving as the Foreign Minister and SOFA in 1997. In 2017, the ACSA was renewed after ten years.

“No one uttered a word when these agreements were first signed. The JO is afraid and envious as these agreements are a blessing to Sri Lanka economically as it will improve technology and generate employment and infrastructure,”he added.

“It is completely false, malicious and mischievous to say that the US and the EU would invade Sri Lanka and establish bases of the US Army under conditions of these agreements. These fake news are spread with the aim of denying Sri Lanka’s victories gained in international forums and hoodwink the public,” Minister Samaraweera said.

Referring to the comments that had been made by JO members that the ACSA and SOFA are bulky documents containing new conditions, Minister Samaraweera said those are addendums that explain the services obtained mutually by both countries and areas of cooperation between the two countries. Nothing about setting up of US camps or acquiring of lands or other state assets of Sri Lanka as suggested by the JO.