Colombo: A coalition partner in the Sri Lankan government said that Colombo should stop according any preferential trade treatment to New Delhi, two days after India voted in favour of a UNHRC resolution against it.
"We should not grant favours to countries merely because they are our neighbours. India was the only Asian country that sided with the US.
"Whenever we (Sri Lanka) take a decision we are always concerned how it would affect India", Udaya Gammanpila, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) spokesman told reporters.
JHU is a partner in the ruling UPFA coalition. Gammanpila said the Indian vote at the UNHRC was inconsistent with its own foreign policy.
The JHU comments however vary with the official stance of the government.
The government leaders have been saying that Indian vote at the UNHRC needs to be understood in the context of domestic politics.
Meanwhile, Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa has called for a boycott of all US brands including Google mail.
Since the conflict with the LTTE ended in 2009, India has doubled its assistance programme in Sri Lanka .
The Indian assistance extends to infra structure development, educational and technical assistance to reconstruction and rehabilitation support.
Indian brand names in diverse areas are dominant in the island.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 21:25