The European Union said yesterday the GSP+ facility, which ceases on August 15, was to be extended however it would not be without conditions attached.

The European Commission said it had informed the Sri Lankan government of its readiness to propose to the EU Council that the facility be renewed for a limited period, subject to a clear and written commitment by Sri Lanka to undertake well defined human rights related actions within a time frame of six months and to provide reassurances as to the sustainability of progress registered under the GSP + dialogue.

“Only if a written commitment to this effect will be made by the Government of Sri Lanka, by July 1, will the EC submit such a proposal to the EU Council, without prejudice to the final decision,” a European Union statement said.

The government yesterday called on the EU to specifically pin point the incidents of human rights violations if any that took place in Sri Lanka during or after the conflict.

Government spokesman, and Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Daily Mirror that the EU’s stand on this issue was confusing.

The EU

in a statement yesterday in response to a news item appeared in the vernacular media at the week end that the EU had decided to extend the GSP+ by another 6 months said contrary to the article the date of August 15 on which Sri Lanka would cease to benefit from GSP+ would not be extended unconditionally.

Sri Lanka is a sovereign, democratic country with robust judicial system. The country’s judiciary is capable of investigating any HR or FR violations. Besides, the protection of HR and FR is enshrined in the country’s Constitution and the Supreme Court is there to interpret and investigate any breach of provisions in the Constitution,” he stressed.

Commenting on the reported move by the UN General Secretary Ban-Ki –Moon to appoint an expert panel to advice him on Sri Lanka’s alleged HR violations during the tail end of the armed conflict, Minister Rambukwella said it was unwarranted and unacceptable as Sri Lanka was a sovereign nation and should not be a subject of investigation to any outside power or agency.

“He should have waited for the report of the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to look into the alleged violations of HR from the CFA up to the conclusion of the humanitarian operation. No investigation or consultancy on Sri Lanka must be based on the mutual cooperation. That has not happened here. There are a number of institutions in Sri Lanka – The Basic Law, the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission and many other civic groups to ensure the protection of HR and FR,” he said.

Asked whether the advisory panel would be permitted to come to Sri Lanka, Minister Rambukwella said they would ‘wait and see’.

“The cooperation and blessings of Sri Lanka is necessary for anyone to visit Sri Lanka. It is up to the UNSG Secretariat to obtain the cooperation of Sri Lankan government for this particular matter or otherwise it will be a total flop,” Minister Rambukwella said.

Source Daily Mirror