Lord Malloch-Brown says the EU and UK consider using GSP+ as a tool to exert pressure on Sri Lanka but rules out recognising a Govt. in exile

Lord Malloch-Brown, the minister in charge of foreign and commonwealth affairs (Asia and Africa) told a meeting in London that the EU and UK consider the GSP+ (Generalised System of Preferences plus-scheme) as a legitimate tool to apply pressure on Sri Lanka.

The meeting was organised by Gareth Thomas, MP, to give Harrow residents the opportunity to discuss their concerns at the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka with the minister, Robert Evans, MEP, and Harrow councillor Thaya Idaikkadar.

On the one hand we don't want Sri Lankan workers to lose their jobs. On the other hand this is a trade preference for countries. Sri Lanka has to do a lot to secure that extension British minister, Lord Malloch-Brown on GSP+

Tamil community members have urged the minister to consider stronger sanctions against the Sri Lankan government including withdrawing the EU GPS+ trade preference Sri Lanka currently benefits from.

The minister said he has already spoken to trade and foreign ministries on the requirement of Sri Lanka to safeguard human rights to secure the extension of GSP+.

Securing GSP+

“On the one hand we don't want Sri Lankan workers to lose their jobs. On the other hand this is a trade preference for countries. Sri Lanka has to do a lot to secure that extension,” he told the gathering.

	Minister says the Govt. is preparing its proposals for GSP+ extension

Sri Lanka government is preparing a written application for the concession to be continued beyond 01 January 2009, Minister GL Peiris earlier told BBC Sandeshaya.

He added that Sri Lanka will submit the application before 31 October, as the European Commission is to make the final decision on 15 December.
All the 15 countries are required to make fresh applications for the concession to be continued for another three years, Minister Peiris said.

Enhancing human rights situation in the island was among the major conditions when the concession was offered to Sri Lanka and 14 other developing countries in 2005.

Government in exile

The British minister says Sri Lanka should abide by the international standards on human rights for the concession to be extended for another three years.

“It is a powerful economic tool and many textile workers benefit from it. We have the ability to press Sri Lanka through the human rights council, through the commonwealth and through the UN. There are no easy answers, no easy lever we can pull. We have done all we can to engage,” Lord Malloch-Brown said.

Answering a question from the audience, the minister said the British authorities will not recognise any Tamil government in exile.

He said: “There are political parties representing the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The LTTE is leading the armed struggle. The government in Colombo represents a democratically elected government. The UK government would not support a Tamil government in exile”.