A decisive vote on GSP+

Apr 27, 2017

A decisive vote on GSP+ ^Featured

The European parliament will today (27) debate, for a second day, and vote on a resolution moved by leftist and greens MPs against granting the GSP plus export concession to Sri Lanka.

A worried Sri Lankan government has sent a team led by deputy foreign minister Harsha de Silva and comprising both ruling and opposition MPs, to Brussels, Belgium to mediate in the matter, radiogagana.com reports.

The resolution moved by the 52-member GUE/NGL says Sri Lanka has failed to fulfill its promises on human rights and therefore, should not be given the GSP+.

Deputy minister de Silva said there was wide support for Sri Lanka among European MPs, while some groups oppose for various reasons.

A member of the Sri Lankan team, MP Hector Appuhamy said he was confident the country could regain the export concession.

Others include JVP’s Sunil Handunnetti, TNA’s S. Sridharan and DLF’s Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

Sri Lanka will not get GSP+ if the resolution gets the support of more than 373 MPs.