Min. Malik Samarawickrama elaborates on deal with US firm
Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, made a statement to Parliament regarding the deal that was reached with a firm in the United States of America.
The Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade pointed out that the scope of engagement includes lobbing the US congress with the view to introducing and passing a bill to have conflict-affected areas and lagging areas of the country as qualified industrial zones, and thereby obtaining preferential market access to goods produced in those industrial zones.
He noted that this contract with the US firm, ST&R has been entered into with the fullest transparent manner and the proposals have been evaluated by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington and their recommendations have been obtained.
He went on to add that the proposal to enter into a contract with these firms was endorsed by the cabinet sub-committee on economic management on May 25, 2016 and subsequently, approved by the cabinet ministers on June 14, 2016 after submitting a comprehensive memorandum which gave all details of the objective of the contract, output of the contract, type of engagement with of comparison of the cost, among the offers.
“Hon. Speaker I am also a strong advocate of media freedom. However, the media should not abuse that freedom”, said the minister and went on to state that before allegations are made against politicians, whichever side they are on, or public officers or even the businessmen, the media should obtain their explanations and clarifications before publishing damaging and incorrect articles.
The knowledge of the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the said agreement was questioned at the cabinet media briefing held on Wednesday.
Question: A new contract has been awarded to a lobbying firm, Sajin Vass is in trouble now for a similar incident.
Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media, Karu Paranavithana stated that there was a report regarding a new contract has been awarded to a lobbying firm- an incident similar to that which Sajin Vass is in trouble for. However the government has not made such a deal with a lobbying firm and – that is a false news report, he said.
Journalists questioned the deputy minister on the statement made by the secretary to the ministry of international trade, noting that such an agreement was signed.
In reply, the deputy minister stated that there there was a statement made at the cabinet regarding the financial hub and obtaining the services of a former attorney general and another individual, but that is not with regard to a lobbying company of this nature operating in the country
This is the agreement reached with Sandler Travis and Rosenburg P.A. regarding which the deputy minister could not provide a clear answer. According to the contract, which will be in effect for eighteen months, Sri Lanka has to pay a sum of 630,000 USD to the said company.
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