CEPA - not a pair of Indian rubber slippers

by Dr. Rohan de Silva

(July 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Many protests have been made on the signing of the CEPA. India would not pressurise GOSL to sign it unless it is advantageous to them. It is obvious that India is not a magnanimous country.

It tried to dominate Sri Lanka politically through the LTTE. Having failed to do so, it is now trying economic neocolonialism. It is looking for job opportunities for its middle class and lower level people in the service sector numbering millions.

It has been pointed out there has been collusion between some chambers of commerce and MNCs to sign the CEPA with ulterior motives.

But there are protests all round which the government must pay heed to.

The present government is known for poor governance and lack of transparency. It has 178 advisors who have no knowledge and therefore of little value.

G L Pieris, who is in charge of drafting the CEPA, is known for his intransigence, secretiveness and for dilatory tactics. What he says of the CEPA cannot be accepted.

In ancient Sri Lanka or even today marriage takes into account the following factors:

1. Social status of families

2. Education

3. Wealth and

4. Physical attributes such as height.

They were important because they assured success in the long term.

Rich boy marrying from a poor family is only in Sinhala teledramas. Hogwash.

Similarly, for trade agreements to be successful and benefit both countries, there are pre-conditions to be satisfied

What are they?

India is a very large country. Sri Lanka is small. India has a large aggressive economy, well managed, generally. Sri Lanka has a rudimentary economy, which is poorly managed.

Furthermore, India in modern times is aggressive and hostile to its neighbours. Has been particularly unkind to Sri Lanka. Hegemonic in character, India does not want us to buy weapons from China or Pakistan, but will only supply defensive weapons. The height of cheek! It bullies the other SAARC nations.

If the CEPA is signed as it is, we will be swamped and smothered by India. We will be an unequal partner, with everything to India’s advantage.

Has anyone in the President’s Economic Council of Advisors commented whether the CEPA will lead to unemployment in Sri Lanka as Wimal Weerawansa has rightfully pointed out.

Some economists here think that CEPA is a brand of Indian rubber slippers which will be useful to Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka Guardian