22 June 2010 11:38 am
External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris, speaking to reporters a short while ago, said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called him to attend an urgent meeting this evening but did not elaborate on what the meeting was about.
The Minister who was attending the launch of a website said that he had to cut short his participation at the event as he had to attend an urgent meeting with the President.
The meeting comes amidst the EU announcing a set of conditions and a deadline in order to extend the GSP plus trade facilities to Sri Lanka and also moves by the UN to create an expert panel to advice the UN chief regarding human rights issues in the country.
The EU said today it has informed the Government of its readiness to propose to the Council of the EU to maintain GSP plus preferences for Sri Lanka for a limited additional period if some conditions are met and a written commitment is given by 1st July.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is going ahead this week to name an expert panel which will advice him on issues relating to Sri Lanka despite strong objection by the Sri Lankan government. (Daily Mirror online)