European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences GSP+ monitoring team arrived in Colombo to review the implementation of the 27 international conventions applicable for the special incentive arrangement.
Sri Lanka had been a beneficiary of the EU GSP+ and the EU delegation visits Sri Lanka for regular sessions every two years. The EU monitoring team last arrived in 2018 after lifting of the GSP+ ban in 2017.
The monitoring team will be in Sri Lanka till the 5th of October.
On 19 May 2017 Sri Lanka regained access to the EU for its exports under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), on the condition that it replaces its PTA and effectively implements 27 international conventions, including human rights conventions. But, the Sri Lankan government failed to implement the international conventions and instead, they expanded the scope of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (PTA) on 09 March 2021.
Recently, the European Union (EU) Parliament has adopted a resolution calling Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (PTA). The resolution expresses deep concern over Sri Lanka’s alarming path towards the recurrence of grave human rights violations as described by the most recent UN report on Sri Lanka. It also expresses concern about the growing role and interference of China in Sri Lanka.
