A deciding vote will be held within the Members of the European parliament on a resolution refuting the granting of the trade concession by GSP Plus, to Sri Lanka, today (27). 

The deputy minister of foreign affairs, Harsha De. Silva, spoke about how Sri Lanka has implemented the recommendation proposed by the European Commission, during a discussion held yesterday (26). 

De Silva presented the measures taken by the government to improve the level of democracy, rule of law, implementation of human rights and reconciliation processes. 

The minister stated that although a resolution refuting the provision of the trade concession was proposed, he is confident that Sri Lanka will receive the proposed concession with the resolution failing to pass. 

A European Parliamentary group has tabled a resolution in the EU Parliament against granting the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus tariff concession to Sri Lanka for its exports to the 28- member bloc, citing concern over Colombo’s “worryingly slow” progress on key issues like human rights.

The deputy minister said that given the objection filed at the last minute to prevent EU granting the trade concession to Sri Lanka, he has been meeting with several Members of the European Parliament (MEP) on issues related to the matter. 

“While we have broad support among MEPs there are some groups who are strongly objecting on various grounds,” he wrote on Facebook. 

De Silva said that he and Sri Lankan Ambassador Rodney Perera made many calls on such MEPs to explain all the good work the government has done and is doing to improve democracy, governance, rule of law, human rights and reconciliation. 

“By and large they are satisfied with the progress albeit some areas have been slow. I am confident we will make it through,” he said.