These are not laws. They are not treaties. They are Memoranda of Understanding—unsigned by Parliament, concealed from the public, and disguised in diplomatic jargon. Yet, their impact threatens to shape Sri Lanka’s future in ways that cannot be undone.
During Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit, the Sri Lankan government entered into seven Memoranda of Understanding with India. However, none of these agreements have been subject to public debate. None have been presented for parliamentary scrutiny. And none, not even the most experienced legal minds, can fully clarify how binding or enforceable these MOUs truly are.
So, why should this raise alarm?
Because what lies within these MOUs is far more dangerous than their legal ambiguity. They encompass vital sectors: our national electricity grid, digital identity systems, pharmaceutical regulations, defence cooperation, and control over Trincomalee. They pave the way for deeper Indian involvement in Sri Lanka’s healthcare, data infrastructure, and even provincial development in the Eastern Province—an area already fraught with geopolitical tensions.
Who authorised this? Where is the documentation? Where is the public accountability? These are not agreements ratified by Parliament or endorsed by the Constitution. These are political handshakes inked behind closed doors, with the public left to bear the consequences.
MOUs are frequently used as a means to evade legal accountability. They appear harmless—temporary, flexible, and informal. But when they encroach upon matters of national sovereignty, they are anything but. They are ticking time bombs.
Sri Lanka’s independence was never meant to be bartered away in unsigned letters of intent. These MOUs, if activated and enforced, have the potential to reshape our economy, our military, our infrastructure, and even our national identity—without a single vote from the citizens whose lives they will irrevocably alter.
If the government genuinely believes in the legitimacy of these MOUs, they must bring them before the people for open debate. Until that happens, the people of Sri Lanka must stand firm and reject this secretive diplomacy.
For what is being decided without the consent of the people will undoubtedly be used against them.
