Minister confident of positive decision over GSP+

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament Thursday the Government's transparent and open engagement with the EU would facilitate a positive decision on the part of the EU to continue the GSP+ facility for Sri Lanka.

The Minister speaking at the Emergency Debate said the Government did not accept the process of GSP+ investigation proposed by the EU.

The Government is not willing to compromise on Sri Lanka's sovereignty with the intrusive procedure of an investigation.

Therefore the Government has not involved itself in any procedure which has even a hint of the investigation process while we have stood our ground that Sri Lanka's sovereignty will not be compromised, we have continued to engage the EU on the relevant human rights conventions and concerns - through meetings at ministerial and senior official levels, both in Brussels and Colombo.

The Minister said some members of the international community have taken unfairly critical postures on Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the neutralisation of the terrorists while there has been broad appreciation of the magnanimous efforts made by Sri Lanka in overcoming some of the post-conflict challenges. Some of them have yielded to reason, balance and fairness while others choose to ignore the achievements, and unduly pressure the Government to work at their pace and behest.

Commenting on the incident which took place in the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi he said the Foreign Ministry and the High Commission in New Delhi have made representations to the Indian Government regarding this incident.

A group of protestors had forcibly entered and caused some damage to the High Commission premises. The Indian External Affairs Ministry has issued a statement deeply regretting the unfortunate incident.