Govt unhappy about EU report on GSP concessions: G.L.Peiris

By Chris Kamalendran reporting from Colombo

(October 20, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The government said today it is deeply disillusioned with several developments it has encountered in respect of the decision making process of the European Union (EU) in connection with the granting of the GSP plus preferential trade facility or Sri Lanka.

Minister of International Trade G.L.Peries said that the government finds it particularly disconcerting some attitudes directly linked to subjective views, expressed in formal discussions with surprising lack of restraint, by officials of the Commission with regards to a wide range of issues within Sri Lanka ‘s sovereign competence including the acceptability of military action in the country.

Ina special statement in Parliament, the Minister said that it is fundamentally wrong to use GSP Plus as a weapon to coerce the government into making departures from core national polices which have even formulated and are being implemented with the overwhelming support of the people.

“We have every reason to protest vehemently against the threatened use of GSP as powerful weapon against our country for any purpose whatsoever,” he said.

-Sri Lanka Guardian