The country’s diplomatic corps is engaging their counterparts in an effort to convince them that Sri Lanka will be able to meet the conditions that are required for an extension of the GSP+ facility, Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.
Delivering a public lecture on The Role of International Agreements and Diplomacy in Promoting Sri Lankan Business he said that it was vitally important that the country continued to enjoy the benefits of GSP+ with bilateral trade with the EU exceeding US $ 3 billion affecting 100,000 jobs directly.
"At present we are making a concerted effort through our diplomatic missions to convince our partners that Sri Lanka will be able to meet the conditions required," he said.
He said that while the struggle against a brutal terrorist outfit continued the government had taken several steps to ensure that international human rights standards are met.
One particular convention on human rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) drew attention recently when a court ruling said that the country’s legislature did not make the convention effective. But the Supreme Court laid this matter to rest.
"The Supreme Court has held that the ICCPR had been given adequate legal effect under the law of Sri Lanka."
"The Tilakaratna Commission was appointed to look into disappearances. An independent commission of inquiry was launched to investigate a number of high profile incidents which commenced hearings in March," Dr Kohona said.
The latter commission was observed by an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons who withdrew in May saying the government had put stumbling blocks preventing them from carrying out their functions as well as they would have liked to. And they left after stirring a hornet’s nest.
"Its true they decided to conclude their work and had also made certain comments. The commission and the attorney general’s office have responded to these comments."
Dr Kohona said that the military have been extensively trained by the ICRC.
"We continuously interact with high level UN officials responsible for different aspects of human rights and have not hesitated in inviting them to the country," he said.
Dr Kohona said that the scrutiny that Sri Lanka was being subject to suggested that the harshest standards were being applied.
"It is important that they realise that while Sri Lanka fights a brutal terrorist organisation, the country is making a genuine effort to protect human rights standards."
Despite adverse publicity the country’s diplomatic corps had done well to maintain good relationships and was able to acquire development assistance from several countries and Dr Kohona went on to list a few.
Japan US $ 618 million, China over US $ 1 billion, Iran US $ 1.9 billion, India over US $ 500 million, the Republic of Korea US $ 117 million, the EU US $ 129 million.
The Asian Development Bank, World Bank and countries such as the US, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary also assist Sri Lanka achieve its development objectives.
"At a time when global development assistance levels have dropped, Sri Lanka seeking to provide a better economic future for its people, has succeeded in increasing assistance. These development projects create opportunities for business and increased prosperity for the people," he said.
A visiting delegation of European Commission (EC) officials said that the government needed to help the EC by finding a way to address their concerns.
"If GSP+ is wanted Sri Lanka will first have to help us," they said.
They pointed out that the lack of follow up on the abductions and the calls of both the International Group of Eminent Persons and the UN on the government to deliver concrete results were serious concerns for the EC.
"The government should take their recommendations seriously by taking cases to court and ensure effective and independent human rights monitoring," the EC delegation said, adding that the government should publicise the positive steps it took so that people could be aware of what the government was doing to address the human rights issues.
