No intention to re-apply for GSP -SL

25 February 2011 11:19 am

The Sri Lanka government has said that it has no intention to re-apply for the GSP+ facility as it is a ‘closed issue’ for them, the visiting European Union Parliamentary delegation told the media a short while ago.

“The government indicated to us that the GSP+ is now a closed issue that it has no interest in pursuing any further or re-applying for the concession. The government now hopes to look toward small and medium enterprise development with the EU- move on from the GSP+ issue and develop a better relationship,” Head of the European Parliamentary Delegation for Relations with South Asia Jean Lambert said.

The Delegation also praised the government’s plans for development in the North and stated that members of the delegation were “impressed” by the developments especially in the areas of education and healthcare. Nevertheless they called for “local participation” in the development process and showed optimism that the local elections would eventually ensure this participation.

“We also welcome the governments open dialog with the Tamil National Alliance, while identifying that naturally there are political issues that are yet to be resolved,” she said.

While here the delegation had questioned the government on whether the role of the military in the north was being sufficiently curtailed and had discussions on this matter with the Secretary of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapakse. “We want to make sure that people are clear on where the role of the military stops and where the work for civil society begins. Not just in terms of the Police but also in terms of law and order,” Lambert said. “The Defence Secretary was also clear that Tamil speaking policemen will be recruited in the north in order to deal with law and order,” she added.

Lambert explained that a number of development projects which were “well thought out” were presented to her at “break-neck speed” and expressed that if these were “physically delivered” there would be massive development in the north. However she cautioned that the funding and loan repayment for these projects needed to be monitored.

The delegation had also observed a debate in parliament on the state of emergency.

While here the delegation flew to the North in order to observe the post-conflict situation there. The group also met with Speaker of Parliament Chamal Rajapakse and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and other members of the government and opposition, INGO’s, NGO’s and civil society representatives. (DS)

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