Sri Lanka’s government has confirmed that it cannot yet disclose the contents of a recently signed Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India without mutual agreement, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa revealed on Tuesday.
The MoU was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka, amid regional tensions and growing Indian concerns over Chinese research vessels entering Sri Lankan waters. India has previously cited such visits as potential threats to the security of the Indian Ocean region.
Addressing the media at the weekly Cabinet briefing, Jayatissa, who also serves as Minister of Media and Health, said the contents of the agreement require joint consent for public disclosure.
“On certain contents, we need mutual agreement to disclose the information,” Jayatissa said, responding to a question about whether the MoU restricts the entry of Chinese research vessels. “These are only Memorandums of Understanding. We will disclose them to Parliament in the future. If it is difficult to wait, some information can be requested through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.”
Efforts by EconomyNext to obtain more details from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through RTI were unsuccessful, with the designated officer stating that the defence MoU “does not fall under the purview” of the Ministry.
Jayatissa reassured the public that the MoUs were signed with due diligence and institutional oversight, involving months of inter-ministerial consultations, legal reviews, and amendments before reaching consensus.
“These are not decisions taken solely by politicians,” he said. “All relevant institutions, including the Attorney General’s Department, were involved. Mechanisms will be established to implement these MoUs as needed.”
While the government has pledged transparency, it appears the full disclosure of the Defence Cooperation MoU with India will hinge on bilateral approval and could take time before being presented to Parliament.