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CP asks whether MoU with US a precursor to SOFA
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) has asked whether the NPP entered into a military agreement with the US as a condition for reduction of tariffs and precursor to signing SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement).
CPSL Leader Dr. G. Weerasinghe told The Island that the US had almost succeeded in finalising SOFA during the Yahapalana administration (2015-2019). On behalf of the party, Dr. Weerasinghe yesterday (18) issued the following statement: “We strongly condemn the NPP government for entering into a new military Memorandum of Understanding with the United States National Guard under the so-called State Partnership Programme (SPP). This agreement between the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Montana National Guard represents another step in the militarisation of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ and the erosion of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
The new US–Sri Lanka MoU formalises cooperation on a wide range of military activities: joint training, maritime surveillance, air operations, and disaster-response integration between the US National Guard and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The agreement should be seen as a pretext for embedding US military structures within Sri Lanka.
This MoU has been signed in a context of heightened US militarism, including Washington’s open threats of aggression against Venezuela and complicity in the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Moreover, this is the second military agreement reached by the NPP government, following the earlier India–Sri Lanka defence MoU whose contents remain entirely concealed from the public.
There are critical questions that every Sri Lankan must ask:
Was signing this agreement a political condition for the reduction in tariffs?
Is this MoU a precursor to signing a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States?
Will Sri Lanka’s military, naval and air force infrastructure facilities, as well as Sri Lanka’s ports and airports, be placed at the disposal of the US war machine?
Is Sri Lanka to be a pawn in US military aggression in Asia?
The CPSL reaffirms that Sri Lanka must be a non-aligned, sovereign country. We call on the NPP government to immediately disclose the content of all military agreements it has entered into, halt further defence cooperation with foreign powers, and place national security decisions under democratic scrutiny.
Further, we call upon all anti-imperialist and patriotic forces to come forward to protect the non-aligned status and sovereignty of the country.”
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.
The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.
According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.
He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.
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