[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S13422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 108-9

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask 
unanimous consent the injunction of secrecy be removed from the 
following treaty, transmitted to the Senate on October 28, 2003, by the 
President of the United States: Protocol Amending Tax Convention with 
Sri Lanka (Treaty Doc. 108-9).
  I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the 
first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and the 
President's message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith, for Senate advice and consent to ratification, 
the Protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the 
United States of America and the Government of the Democratic Socialist 
Republic of Sri Lanka for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the 
Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income signed at 
Colombo on March 14, 1985, together with an exchange of notes, signed 
at Washington on September 20, 2002 (the ``Protocol''). I also 
transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the 
Department of State concerning the Protocol.
  The Protocol would amend the Convention to make it similar to tax 
treaties between the United States and other developing nations. The 
Convention would provide maximum rates of tax to be applied to various 
types of income and protection from double taxation of income. The 
Convention, as amended by the Protocol, also provides for resolution of 
disputes and sets forth rules making its benefits unavailable to 
residents that are engaged in treaty shopping.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
this Protocol in conjunction with the Convention, and that the Senate 
give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, October 28, 2003.

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