Supreme Court endorses Lanka’s Human Rights commitment

Verdict nullifies attempts to tarnish Lanka’s image:

COLOMBO: The Supreme Court has determined that internationally accepted human rights conventions have been enshrined in Sri Lanka’s legal system.

This verdict has been returned by the Supreme Court on a request by the President to seek a SC determination on Lanka’s stand vis-a-vis the legal enshrinement of human rights, Export Promotion and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the weekly Cabinet press briefing.

He said this determination has nullified attempts by certain elements here and abroad to tarnish the human rights image of Sri Lanka.

He said these accusations have surfaced mainly in the backdrop of Sri Lanka reapplying for GSP+ duty free status for apparel and other exports to the European Union this year. The aim of these elements was to deprive the EU apparel quotas to Lanka and hurt its economy.

The GSP+ status is reviewed every three years and is applicable to 7,200 categories of goods.

The Minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who realised the immense loss that some elements were trying to cause to the country, requested the Supreme Court to determine whether Sri Lanka maintained and respected an internationally accepted human rights legal framework, which would satisfy the EU.

The Government’s commitment to human rights has been reinforced by the Supreme Court verdict, he added.

“The apparel industry is the biggest beneficiary of GSP+. More than 350,000 are directly employed in the apparel sector and more than one million indirectly benefit. More than three million families depend on the apparel sector.”

He expressed the hope that the Supreme Court verdict would be an appropriate answer to those who had attempted to show that Sri Lanka had no respect for human rights, with the aim of scuttling the GSP+ quota allocation.