CEPA signing to be delayed,Minister G.L.Peiris

The Government has no intention of signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India against the wishes of the industrialists, companies and others in the country, Minister of Export Development and International Trade G.L.Peiris said today.

“There will be a fuller, broader discussing before the signing of the agreement, “Minister Peiris told reporters at a press briefing.

He said that negotiations on the agreement had begun in August 2004 and even though there had been a great deal of discussions , strong opposition has emerged during the past two weeks from the chambers of commerce, industrialists and others and the government wants to give more time for a even border discussion before finalizing matters.