Days after the European Parliament adopted a harsh resolution on Sri Lanka calling for the scrapping of its Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) Colombo has apprised the European Union (EU) of progress in specific areas of reconciliation, including action underway to revisit PTA provisions.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry apprised the EU that it was studying existing legislation, past practice, and international best practices related to the PTA and would share information about the developments as part of the regular engagement and dialogue with the organization.

The ministry said the cabinet of ministers decided to appoint a sub-committee and an officials committee on June 21 to review the PTA and submit a report to the cabinet within three months.

The EU was also informed of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa granting a pardon to 16 former cadres of the terrorist organization LTTE who were convicted and serving sentences under the PTA.

On progress in the ongoing reconciliation mechanisms, the government said SL Rs 79 million has been released to the Office of Reparations in June to settle 1,230 processed claims for reparation.

 An additional SL Rs 80 million was released on 29 June to settle 1,451 of 3,389 processed claims.

The foreign ministry statement said there is constructive cooperation with the European Commission on the review of the country’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus compliance with the 27 core international conventions.

The EU resolution had recommended the removal of GSP+ trade concession unless Sri Lanka implements the 27 international conventions.

The GSP+ is a special trading arrangement that provides developing countries preferential access to the European markets by slashing tariffs to zero on most of the products.

The countries benefiting from the scheme have to implement the 27 international conventions related to human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

Sri Lankan minister Dayasiri Jayasekara recently told parliament his country was at the risk of losing USD 2 billion if the GSP concession was withdrawn.

(SAM)