'Govt will adopt reasonable measures to secure GSP+'

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris told Parliament yesterday the Government will adopt all reasonable measures to secure for the benefits accruing from the requested extension of the GSP+ facility for a further period of three years.

However, the Government is not prepared to acquiesce in any course of action which is inconsistent with the sovereignty and dignity of the Nation. That is why we have steadfastly refused to submit Sri Lanka to an investigation carried out by a foreign Government.

The Minister was responding to a special statement made by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera in Parliament on September 24 regarding the GSP+ issue. The Minister said "we must confess to deep disillusionment with several developments we have encountered in respect of the decision-making process.

Prof. Peiris said the Government is engaged in a series of bilateral discussions with several countries of the European Union to set out Government's position clearly.

The Government has expressed its willingness to engage in a continuing dialogue with the EU through regular diplomatic channels and to place at the disposal of the Commission any information they may require.

Throughout these consultations, there is a central focus. This consists of sharp emphasis on the new situation in Sri Lanka, consequent on the eradication of terrorism after three decades, he said. The Government has provided the Commission with detailed information relating to initiatives taken by the Government with regard to the resettlement of IDPs, the revival of the economy in those parts of the island which have been ravaged by the conflict, measures directed towards the restoration of livelihoods and the resuscitation of the democratic process with the holding of the elections to local bodies in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the Minister added.