Lanka says GSP beneficial

14 June 2010 05:42 am

The government hopes the EU would re-calibrate it’s relationship with the island and engage the country in a forward-looking manner be-fitting the present context. Sri Lanka also feels the continuance of GSP+ will benefit the country.

A statement by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha said the many steps taken in recent months to further strengthen good governance while having regard to transitional law enforcement and security challenges, do not compromise Sri Lanka’s national interest.

He said the continuance of the GSP+ benefits to Sri Lanka could serve as a useful catalyst in this process, optimizing the goodwill built through the recent high-level interactions and raising the relationship to a new level of understanding.

The Ambassador noted that during two visits to the EU by a Sri Lankan delegation several important aspects of the relationship, including issues relating to the political developments, humanitarian aid, development assistance and counter terrorism had been reviewed with a wide range of interlocutors from the European Council and member states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission.

Detailing the many steps taken by the government in recent months in this direction without compromising Sri Lanka’s national interest, he said the Attorney General during the discussions had made clear that the roll back of the Emergency Regulations at this juncture is only the beginning of a process which will be continued as and when the ground conditions become conducive to further relaxation.

Ambassador Aryasinha hoped that the EU and its 27 member states would re-calibrate their relationship with Sri Lanka and engage the country in a forward-looking manner be-fitting the present context, where the Government and the people of Sri Lanka were focused on reaping the peace dividend by forging national amity and prosperity. (Daily Mirror online)