Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

This is like saying tigers have surrounded Anuradhapura & are operating inside Anuradhapuram !

just like saying VP is concerned about Tamil people and their liberation!

the ground situation is to the contrary/nachikuda is not surrounded.

Sri Lanka asks EU to extend GSP Plus trade deal
Oct 13, 2008 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's government has formally applied to the European Union to extend the GSP Plus trade scheme under which the island's exports gain duty free access, an official said.
S Ranugge, secretary to the external trade ministry, said the government expects to know by December 15 whether or not the GSP Plus scheme would be extended.
The application for GSP Plus extension was sent through the foreign affairs ministry to the high commission in Brussels which had submitted it last Friday, he said.

The island's apparel industry and exporters of a host of other products depend heavily on the duty free access provided under the GSP Plus scheme to sell in EU markets.

Loss of the duty free concession would make Sri Lankan exports uncompetitive against exports of other countries with lower labour, energy and raw material costs.

It would be a critical blow especially to the apparel industry which has seen sales to the United States, the biggest markets, slowing down.

The apparel industry has said it fears the EU might not extend the concession because of concerns over alleged human rights abuses by government forces in their campaign against the Tamil Tigers.

The EU and western governments as well as international human rights groups have repeatedly blamed the government for human rights abuses.
Visiting EU officials have also expressed concern over the killing and kidnapping of journalists, which undermines democracy and freedom of expression.

EU has said Sri Lanka has to comply with the International Covenants of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which the country has already signed.

The government has maintained that it does not tolerate human rights abuses by its forces and that it is investigating allegations of such abuses.

let us give a another few months to see how things play out

All his actions are based on minimising Tamils Suffering ..

One of the most wanted men in the world and his image is not tainted? Funny.

That is why his image is not tainted....