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SJB ally welcomes Indo Lanka land link

26 Jul 2023 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

By Yohan Perera   

The Indo Sri Lanka Land link will be economically beneficial to Sri Lanka to have cheaper and quicker access to the world’s fifth-largest economy, Leader of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) ally Tamil  Progressive Alliance (TPA) said yesterday.  

“We must agree to such with a condition that Sri Lanka shall  obtain “most favoured nation” treatment by-passing all current trade  agreements with India. TPA Leader Member of Parliament Mano Ganesan  said.   


“Sri Lankan produces for the Indian market shall obtain “tax free status” similar to that of GSP+,” he added.   


“India is booming. We must use our geographical location,  the very close proximity to India, to get the best out of it. Our  manufacturers should be able to reach the most sought-after powered  middle-class consumer market, especially in southern, India. I have  discussed such proposals with President Wickremesinghe when he was our Prime Minister in the previous government. Later now with Leader of  Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Indian High Commissioner Bagley. Only  those “frog in the well’ phobia jokers will oppose such, creating stories  of bogus “dangers”. We are an island, but there are hundreds of  countries with common borders some are even land locked, like  Afghanistan and Nepal,” he also said.  
“Use of Indian Rupee is a secondary matter. We already use  foreign currencies unofficially and officially too,” Ganesan further  stressed.