High-level Lankan delegation to Brussels next week for talks with EU

A high level Sri Lankan delegation will leave for Brussels on March 15 for talks with the European Union (EU) on several important issues, said by Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L.Pieris.

Addressing the weekly cabinet briefing at the Government Information Department (GIC) yesterday (March 10), Minister Peiris said that a four-man delegation comprising Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara, Foreign Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe, Justice Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamlath and Attorney General Mohan Peiris will mainly discuss about the international community’s unnecessary intervention into the internal problems of the country.

Cabinet spokesman, Prof. Pieris said that though Sri Lanka had wiped out the LTTE terrorism from the country, its shadows are still haunting from several other countries with the assistance from some countries as well as non governmental organizations. World Tamil Forum meet in London, where the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, addressed the gathering, ended with three resolutions; calling upon for a war heroes who saved hundreds thousands of civilians from the LTTE, refusing Sri Lankan products and service at the open market and accept of the interim regime concept’, the Minister added.

Minister Pieris was saying that these things happened for meeting the needs of some politicians who were seeking petty political ends. The Minister further said that UN’s General Secretary Ban Ki Moon’s statement to appoint a advisory panel on Sri Lanka was an unnecessary task and “they have not at least recognized their agenda.”

‘The Human Rights Council in Geneva in its last session Sri Lanka had cleared from all the allegations on Sri Lanka’s violation of human rights. While whole the world has accepted that the Sri Lanka is now a peaceful country, some sections of the international community still try to sling mud at the Sri Lanka’s image.

“The special delegation which will be in Brussels on March 15, will address all these issues, including the GSP+ issue”, the Minister added. The EU last month had decided to withdraw GSP concession for Sri Lanka but had given Sri Lanka time to negotiate over the facility.

- Asian Tribune -