State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said yesterday that a high-powered committee had been appointed to review all existing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between his Ministry and foreign and local institutes.

Minister Tennakoon said that there was a growing concern about implications of certain MoUs between foreign and local institutions and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). “We have appointed a high-profile committee to conduct a comprehensive review. The primary goal of this review is to ensure that these agreements align with the best interests of the nation,” he said.

Tennakoon added that the committee comprised representatives from key government bodies, including MoD, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other state institutions.

“This committee will scrutinise the content of existing MoUs and their obligations. It would be followed by the formulation of recommendations aimed at improving these agreements,” the Minister said, noting that the MoUs were expected to foster mutually beneficial relationships through collaboration. However, a critical review was needed to ensure these agreements are optimised.

Key areas to evaluate include bilateral mutual benefits, legal and functional obligations, exchange conditions, and unique issues specific to the involved institutes.

The MoUs should deliver reciprocal advantages economically, technologically, and strategically for both parties. Compliance with laws, clarity of provisions, and completeness of outlined obligations require examination. Fairness, efficiency and enforceability of resource and knowledge exchange mechanisms need assessment. Additionally, factors indigenous to each institute – cultural, environmental, and operational – must be considered to ensure MoU adaptability and effective implementation.