GSP+ issue:

Inter-religious group from Sri Lanka meets Italian FM

An inter-religious group of dignitaries from Sri Lanka met the Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, Deputy Director General (Asia Desk) Enzo Ageloni and other senior officials of the Italian Government with Sri Lanka Ambassador Hemantha Warnakulasuriya to request for a review of the EU position on GSP+ recently.

The delegation explained that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka that appeared a matter of concern for the EU had not been properly understood due to the armed conflict with the LTTE terrorist group. The delegation comprised Ven. Prof Bellanvila Wimalaratana Nayake Thera, Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev Dr. Malcolm Ranjith, Hindu clergyman Vidyarti Brahmasri Kuhananda Sharma, Al-haj Moulavi Viyas Mohamed and Rev Dr. Damian Fernando, Ambassador Hemantha Warnkulasuriya said in a release to the Daily News yesterday.

The Italian Foreign Minister was briefed about the actual situation in Sri Lanka and the adverse effects that the withdrawal of GSP+ would have on about a million people. The religious dignitaries said they represented all the religious groups of Sri Lanka and invited an Italian delegation to visit Sri Lanka.

Foreign Minister Frattini said he would take up the matter with his government and support Sri Lanka to regain GSP+ and requested for a detailed report to be sent to him, the Ambassador’s release stated.