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Sri Lanka says no to EU rights probe for trade deal
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by Dave Keating | October 20, 2008 at 02:28 am
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A garment-related trade deal between Sri Lanka and the EU may be cancelled after the country decided not to allow the EU to investigate human rights abuses there.
Sri Lanka said on Monday it will not allow a European Union investigation into rights abuses it has insisted on before renewing a trade preference that has helped boost the Indian Ocean nation's garment industry.
The Sri Lankan government also said it would provide a $150 million subsidy to offset any shock the loss of the concession may cause in an industry that in 2007 was its top foreign exchange source.
The European bloc has repeatedly warned it may not renew the GSP Plus trade scheme after it expires in December because of continuing human rights abuses stemming from Sri Lanka's civil war with the separatist Tamil Tigers.
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at 22:28 on October 21st, 2008
The Sri Lankan Government will not betray Sri Lanka's sovereignty to obtain economic benefits from other countries, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof G.L. Peiris said . Also he added ""we have opened the doors for continuous discussions on the issue."
"The Cabinet has decided to reject the investigation and we have instructed our Ambassador in Brussels to inform relevant authorities on our decision. We are ready for open discussions with the Commission regarding the issue," he said.