UNP’s no confidence motion an attempt to discredit Govt - Justice Minister

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Justice Minister Athauda Seneviratne described the UNP’s No-Confidence Motion against External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris as an attempt to discredit the Government and cater to the interests of certain foreign forces.

The intention of the UNP is to hinder the country’s development to gain their narrow political objectives. The UNP believes then the people will get fed up with this Government and rally round them. However, the people are well aware of these conspiracies hatched by the UNP, Minister Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer.

The Minister said that the UNP in its no faith motion attempted to highlight that the External Affairs Minister was unable to retain the GSP Plus facility for Sri Lanka. The UNP should understand that the GSP Plus was given to Sri Lanka as a relief after the Tsunami in 2004. The GSP Plus is given to low income countries. At present Sri Lanka has become a middle income country. Many concessions given to low income countries are stopped when that country is developed. There is no possibility of retaining the GSP Plus forever, he said.

The Government discussed with the EU to retain the GSP Plus. When the GSP facility was first given the EU did not put forward any conditions to Sri Lanka. It was Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who pressurised the EU even in writing to impose these conditions on Sri Lanka. The UNP also attempted to drag even businessmen in the apparel industry sector in this issue.

Minister Seneviratne said the EU thought that the Government would bow down and accept their conditions. The Government will not take any measure which would have any adverse effects on the sovereignty of our country.

According to the Minister the 17th Amendment, human rights, trade union rights or media freedom are not connected with the GSP Plus. The EU was compelled to put forward nearly 15 conditions as the Opposition Leader requested them to do so. In addition, some Western countries regret the moves taken by the Government to eradicate LTTE terrorism. Hence they also attempt to exert pressure on us, he said.

If the EU does not extend the GSP Plus facility, the Government would not provide any room for the collapse of the country’s apparel sector. The Government would take every possible measure to safeguard the industrial sector, the Minister said.