Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party and Member of Parliament, Ravi Karunanayake, has stressed the critical importance of the GSP+ concession for Sri Lanka, particularly as the country works to recover from near bankruptcy.
Addressing the media, Karunanayake urged the government to promptly implement the proposals put forward by the European Union in order to secure the continuation of the GSP+ trade benefit.
He emphasized that protecting the concession requires concrete action, not just verbal assurances.
The MP further noted that one of the EU’s key recommendations is the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and said that an urgent decision must be made on this matter. He added that if the government intends to retain the legislation in a revised form, it must clearly outline the amendments, especially in light of the EU’s concerns about its more harmful provisions.
Karunanayake also highlighted the EU’s proposal to repeal or amend the Online Safety Act. He said that the current administration—having come to power partly on a platform opposing the Act—must now take a firm position to address EU concerns and ensure the protection of the GSP+ concession.
