EU delegation Head briefs Foreign Minister

The Head of the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka Ambassador Bernard Savage called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday and briefed the Minister on the developments connected with the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty which came into force on December 1.

Minister Bogollagama used the opportunity of the meeting to take up the European Commission press release "Commission statement on GSP+ and Sri Lanka" of December 15, 2009.

The Minister observed in this regard that the Sri Lanka Government had impressed upon the EU that any hasty decision on the issue will contribute to the perception that the EU is seeking to influence the electoral process in Sri Lanka.

He observed that regrettably, this perception has been reinforced by the timing, which can only be termed as unfortunate, of the Commission's December 15 announcement on its intent to temporarily suspend the EU GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka.

The Minister concluded his remarks by expressing confidence in the Government's ability to safeguard the country's democratic institutions and the sovereign right of its people of all communities to exercise their franchise, free of undue or unwarranted influence, during the upcoming election.