S Lanka-India economic pact signing to be delayed

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COLOMBO, July 20 (Xinhua): The Sri Lankan government said yesterday that the signing of the much anticipated comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between India and Sri Lanka would be delayed.

"We are not in a hurry to sign it. It is still at the discussion table, not finalised yet," Anura Yapa, the government spokesman and the minister of information and media told reporters.

It is reported earlier that the CEPA would be signed on the sidelines of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation ( SAARC) meeting to be held in Colombo from July 27 to August 3.

The CEPA framework was presented to the Sri Lankan cabinet this week, government sources revealed.