Sri Lanka and GSP+:

Challenges ahead

Aggamaha Panditha Venerable Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayaka Thera

Archaeological excavations conducted so far have confirmed that Sri Lanka’s heritage extends to pre-historic times. The artifacts unearthed and examined by experts both local and foreign have revealed that the island’s history goes back to over 10,000 years. These include the period of the legendary Rama and Ravana.

In very ancient times Sri Lanka was linked to Southern India by land around 4000 years ago nature’s upheavals such as earthquakes, sea erosion and tsunamis caused the island to become gradually separated from the island subcontinent.

Indian epic Ramayana

According to the Indian epic Ramayana, Hanuman and his army invaded Sri Lanka by using the still - visible stone ‘bridge’ (now submerged) following Indian Prince Rama’s dispute with Lanka’s King Ravana over the abduction of Princess Sita. This story proves the close connections between the two countries.

The introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mahinda, son of Indian Emperor Dharmashoka was the beginning of a new and vigorous chapter in the island’s history. Since then an unshakable bond has been forged between India and Sri Lanka. We should not forget that our predominant religion, our arts and craft, farming methods, food recipes, clothing styles, medicines and treatment of diseases all came from India. Apart from these, the Sinhala people too migrated from the North of the subcontinent. Needless to say Tamils too came from India.

Global village

The Muslims (Moors) arrived in the island from India and the Middle-East for trade purposes and settled here.

The Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British colonized Sri Lanka, expanded their empires and strengthened their economies. Today tremendous advances in science and technology have turned the modern world virtually into a global village via satellite communication and the Internet. We cannot think of any other era in which our world had reached such high levels in scientific, technological and economic progress. Educational standards have greatly improved and humanitarian services have expanded. Facilities are in place to provide urgent relief to victims of disasters more than at any time in the past. Improved international relations and unity among the Western powers on many issues have helped to stabilize and strengthen their societies.

However it appears that the west is not adopting the correct policy in relation to problems facing developing nations like Sri Lanka. The time has come for them to adopt a more reasonable and sympathetic approach to these countries.

Immense destruction

As a South Asian nation Sri Lanka experienced terrorism for almost three decades and most people-both foreigners and locals-believed that the problem could never be solved. It is the correct strategy that President Mahinda Rajapaksa adopted in military dealing with the enemy that finally helped to bring relief to the people. All communities-Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim-supported the President in his successful effort to defeat terrorism that caused immense destruction to life and property and damaged the economy for 30 long years. All peace-loving and law-abiding citizens were determined to see that this scourge should end once and for all.

No government in the world has been able to fully protect human rights in times of war. In Sri Lanka our Security Forces safeguarded human rights to the best of their ability during the fighting. In fact even before the war ended, a ‘train of brotherhood’ left late last year for Vavuniya in the North from Matara in the South taking relief items to thousands of Tamil civilians displaced by the fighting. These items were voluntary contributions by people and organizations in the South.

European Union

Yet it is regrettable that the European Union is considering the withdrawal of GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) plus concessions accusing Sri Lanka of violating human rights. Thus our Government has been charged with violating the conditions of the relevant agreement between this country and the EU.

If the GSP Plus concessions are withdrawn it will adversely affect the livelihoods of over 250,000 garment factory employees in Sri Lanka. The industry indirectly supports around a million of the island’s population of 20 million. Those who are bound to suffer as a result of withdrawing the concessions will be not only Sinhala but also Tamil and people of other ethnic groups.

Even retail shop owners in Britain have urged the European Commission not to penalise Sri Lanka’s textile and garment industry workers or British shoppers by not extending the GSP Plus concession over human rights issues. According to media reports, the British Retail consortium has warned that the removal of the concession for cheap, good quality clothes imported from Sri Lanka could put up customer prices in the United Kingdom.

If the EU thinks it has a dispute with Sri Lanka, the problem should be discussed and resolved at diplomatic level with the Government instead of penalizing ordinary Sri Lankans. As a member of the United Nations, Sri Lanka has abided by international regulations and has worked in close cooperation with the European Union and other countries to date. We have never gone to war with any other country.

Victory over terrorism

It is quite clear that Sri Lanka’s victory over terrorism after 30 years has been a bitter blow to LTTE sympathizers all over the world. Consequently the enraged Tiger supporters have launched a campaign of vilification against this country. It is obviously an attempt to tarnish the island’s global image. That some foreign governments have been deceived by this misinformation has saddened our people.

Hence the ordinary citizens and the Maha Sangha of Sri Lanka most humbly wish that the European Union will do a proper study of the situation here and reconsider its move to withdraw the GSP Plus concessions.

Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayaka Thera is the President of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha (Assembly)