“No decision to sue EU; It is just a view expressed by Prof. Peiris” – Samarasinghe

Despite Prof. Peiris’ claim on suing the EU over temporary suspension of the GSP plus to Sri Lanka, Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe today said there is no such decision adding it is “just a view expressed” by the former.

There will not be any legal action against the EU,” Samarasinghe told Asian Tribune.

“There are various opinions being expressed. But the most important thing is we are in dialogue with the EU resident Ambassador and officials in Brussels” over securing the trade concession to Sri Lanka, he said

* EU Ambassador Savage says no formal intimation on legal action by the Govt. so far

He called the claim by Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof G. L. Peiris on suing the EU as “just a view expressed.”

When contacted the EU Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Bernard Savage told Asian Tribune that there has been “no formal intimation from the government with regard to any legal action.

“We are open for discussion with the Government over the GSP plus,” Savage said.

Last week, the European Commission (EC) recommended temporary suspension of the GSP+ trade scheme to Sri Lanka under which nearly 7100 Sri Lankan exports go to the EU bloc tax free.

And Prof G. L. Peiris snapped at the EU calling the denial of GSP + is violation of human rights. He vowed to take the matter to an international tribunal.

However Samarasinghe today sounded confident that the national action plan on human rights scheduled to come out soon could reverse the EU’s decision.

“It will spell out time bound action strategies and we will demonstrate our commitment to improve rights,” he said.

Samarasighe said there are positive signals coming from the EU already vis-à-vis the resettlement process of the IDPs.

He said the final decision by the European Commission with regard to the GSP plus will come in February next year and there onwards a period of six months is given before it is implemented.

“We have ample opportunity till August to prove our commitment to improve human rights,” Samarasinghe added.

- Asian Tribune -