23 April 2010 11:26 am
The European Union (EU) is of the opinion that the GSP plus issue is now in the hands of the Sri Lankan government and that Sri Lanka should implement all the conventions it is signatory to in order to regain the trade benefits.
The EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka Bernard Savage made these observations while speaking to a group of provincial journalists in Kandy this afternoon. The EU envoy also promised to increase aid to the war affected families in the North.
EU Member States had decided this year to temporarily withdraw with effect from August the preferential tariff benefits known as GSP+ granted to Sri Lanka under a special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance on the ground that there were `significant shortcomings’ in implementation of three UN human rights conventions by the island nation.
Responding to the development the Sri Lanka had expressed the hope that the EU and its Member States would, during the process of engagement, pay due attention to the manifold challenges yet faced by Sri Lanka, as a democracy that fought a decisive battle against terrorism and continue the concessions. (Daily Mirror online)