Introduction
The proposed Indo Sri Lanka, Economic, and Technology Cooperation Agreement has been criticized by most of the intellectuals, including professors, doctors, lecturers, and specialists in various field. But still, the government not hear their voices and not answer to the questions they raised. Since no one knows the real terms and conditions of the proposed ETCA agreement. If the ETCA agreement practically come into operation, the following policies must be implemented to get the benefits from that agreement and protect Sri Lankan economy also.
1. Sri Lanka government should be given the definition for each profession and name the particular qualifications for each profession
Sri Lanka doesn’t have a definition for most of the profession. As an example, who is an information technology specialist? Since after signing ETCA agreement, anyone can come as a professional even though he or she does not possess the particular academic qualifications, professional qualifications, and experiences in that field. Therefore, the government should publish the definition with required academic and professional skills for each area.
2. The government should assess the employment deficiencies in each field and limit the number of visas issuing Indian professionals accordingly
According to the department of census and statistics of Sri Lanka and ministry of labor and employment of India Sri Lanka unemployment is 422446 (4.7%) and India unemployment was 48.26 MN (4.9%) in 2015. If the Sri Lankan government allow them to freely move here, it will negatively impact the unemployment of Sri Lanka as explain in the economic impact section of the report. Therefore, the government should asses the employment deficiencies in each sector and limited the number of visas issuing to Indians accordingly in each year.
3. Appoint an authority or people who get the credibility for the transparency of the agreement
Recently peoples and many professionals talks against ETCA agreement and they are conducting seminars, discussions, conferences regarding this agreement to carry on their opinion to the people. But still, the government not a response to them or do not try to reject their views or publish real terms and conditions of the agreement. That means the government does not hear the voices of people and professional. Since there is a dominant problem regarding the transparency of this agreement. On the other hand, the people who create and sign the deal may leave from their positions within a short period (Including ministers) but the impact of the agreement may long period. That’s why we should establish authority or appoint the persons who get the credibility of the transparency of the agreement.
4. Establish a sound industry policy which coincident with trade policy
When looking at the Indo Sri Lanka free trade agreement and import and export figures with India, we are maintaining sizeable negative trade balance with India. Even though we have entered a few trade agreement with the world, we have failed to promote our trade and promote our exports to the world. The main reason behind this situation is our production not expand to meet a sufficient amount of shipping to get benefits from those trade agreements. Therefore, we should increase our production to get the benefits from trading. Otherwise after signing the ETCA agreement, with what we are going to the Indian market and how we compete with Indian products in the Indian market. That’s why we need a sound industry policy which coincident with trade agreements to increase our production, make a pleasant environment for research and innovation.
5. Making a domestic system for solving problems arising in the agreement which has the consent of India without going to arbitration.
Domestic law system cannot provide provisions for the disputes raise between countries when trade under international trade agreement due to the states have to subjected to terms and conditions of the world trade organization. Therefore, the disputes can be solved going to the arbitration operates under WTO. Usually, the winning party determined by the which party has the most influencing power to the world. We don’t have such ability when compared with India. Since we should try to establish a domestic system which has the consent of India to solve the problems before going to the arbitration
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6. The agreement should be analyzed further engaging specialist in each field and analyze pre-trade agreement’s performance and issues
7. Stablish minimum wage policy for the professionals which has the feasibility
Due to the movement of Indians to Sri Lanka labor supply will increase. Therefore, it forces to decrease the wage rate within Sri Lanka. Since the government should take actions to stabilize the wage rate.
8. Take actions to impose the cultural barriers to protect Sri Lankan culture
Indians are one of the nations who mostly believe fictitious and fabulous things in the world. As the Sri Lankans, their some cultural habits and activities cannot be recommended. We should protect our culture from their culture. Since after signing ETCA agreement government should impose cultural barriers to protect our culture from them.
