Prez upset over US actions, accepts someone should take responsibility for ACSA

President Sirisena responding to a media query at the President’s House-pic by Udesh Gunaratne

By Shamindra Ferdinando-June 26, 2019, 10:41 pm 

President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday, declared that he was strongly opposed to military agreements with the US.

Addressing the media, at the President’s House, Sirisena, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, emphasised that he wouldn’t accept those agreements, including the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

At the onset of the briefing, the second since Easter Sunday attacks, President Sirisena discussed a range of vital issues, focusing on current political uncertainty. The President attributed the political crisis to the 19th Amendment enacted in 2015, even though it was he who had got the Opposition to support it.

The Island sought an explanation as to how President Sirisena asserted his role and responsibility in current chaotic situation as he functioned as the head of UNP cabinet, leader of the SLFP as well as the UPFA, simultaneously. The Island also asked President Sirisena, who would take the responsibility for Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) as he was opposed to military agreements with the US. President Sirisena said that someone should accept the responsibility for ACSA. He pointed out that the signing of ACSA had taken place in August 2017.

The Island highlighted the role played by the then Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi in securing approval for ACSA. Hettiarachchi now serves as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Germany.

President Sirisena, during course of his opening statement referred to his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tajikistan capital of Dushanbe. He met his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the 5th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in June.

President Sirisena said that contrary to reports that he had signed two defence agreements they weren’t new ones.

He had brought to President Putin’s notice US directive prohibiting his government from dealing with some Russian enterprises, the President said. Recollecting how Russia had provided MiG fighters in the wake of 1971 insurgency, President Sirisena complained about the US position vis-a-vis Sri Lanka.

President Sirisena alleged that the US move prevented Sri Lanka from using a credit line made available by Russia.

Sirisena said that he had sought advice from President Putin as to how the problem could be tackled.

The President said that in case the US found fault with Sri Lanka for violating punitive sanctions imposed by Washington, various other international institutions could cause further trouble.

Commenting on the recently finalised tripartite agreement involving Sri Lanka, Japan and India on the East Container Terminal of the Colombo South Port, President Sirisena accused various interested parties of misinterpreting facts relating to the agreement. An attempt was being made to deceive the public regarding the circumstances leading to the finalization of the agreement, President Sirisena said.

"I have been accused of approving an agreement which I opposed earlier," President Sirisena said, adding that following his intervention, Japan had received a 15 per cent stake whereas Sri Lanka got 51 per cent and the rest had gone to India.

President Sirisena said that a section of the media had been, in some instances, at the behest of his political rivals unfairly criticised him over his foreign visits. He claimed that he had never been accompanied by large delegations contrary to media reports. Referring to the recent coverage of his Tajikistan visit, President Sirisena claimed that he had been accompanied by Governors of two provinces and a lawmaker thought the media reported him being accompanied by a 50-member delegation.

President Sirisena inferred Temple Trees as the place where the ‘story’ had originated. He also claimed the credit for Indian Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks. President Sirisena said that Modi’s three hour visit had reassured the world that Sri Lanka was safe. Premier Modi promptly had accepted his request for a visit in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday carnage, the President said.