No Constitutional amendments needed for GSP+
COLOMBO: The Government yesterday categorically stated that no
Constitutional Amendments are needed to qualify for GSP Plus status from
the European Union.
“The Government has rejected this view consistently and
unequivocally. The Government’s position is now amply vindicated by an
authoritative ruling of the Supreme Court that the rights in question
are firmly embedded in our legal system and are enforceable through the
judicial process in Sri Lanka,” a Government statement stated yesterday.
It has been maintained that compliance with conditions for obtaining
GSP+ concessions is impossible without amending of Sri Lanka’s
Constitution.
This argument, propagated mainly by an NGO, is entirely erroneous and
based on untruths, the statement added.
The Government’s response to this is that it would be not merely
irresponsible but indeed wicked to deprive hundreds of thousands of
workers of their livelihoods on the basis of a construction of the law
which was clearly erroneous and which the highest Court in the land has
now held to be fundamentally wrong.
This is the view expressed by the NGO and echoed by the Leader of the
Opposition, which is now conclusively rejected by the Supreme Court of
Sri Lanka.
It is now irrefutably established that the call for the initiatives
proposed by the NGO and supported by the Leader of the Opposition is
based on a profound misconstruction of the law. The propaganda which has
been carried out strenuously on this flawed footing, has caused, and is
continuing to cause, grave damage to Sri Lanka’s cause.
“It is much to be regretted that these obstacles and impediments
arise entirely from action by groups within our shores, deliberately
calculated to prejudice the minds of decision-makers on grounds which
are demonstrably unwarranted.
Against these odds, the Government remains steadfast in its resolve
to do everything in its power to protect the trade and economic
interests of this nation, while upholding its sovereignty and legitimate
sense of pride.” |