At a time when Sri Lanka’s economy is in a critical condition, the government would lose the European Union’s GSP+ tariff concession due to the government’s use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to suppress the opposition, the Opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said.
Speaking at a media briefing Saturday (12) at the party headquarters, the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva said instead of controlling the Covid pandemic, the government is using draconian laws to suppress the dissent and cover up the political failures.
“One and a half years after the present government came to power, there is a crisis on all sides and instead of controlling the Covid epidemic, they are using repressive laws to cover up their political shortcomings. They are wasting money by importing vehicles for the powerful without proposing a program to rebuild the collapsed economy. Also, human rights are being violated to suppress anti-government forces. The country has been pulled down on all sides,” Silva said.
The European Parliament last week adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka calling for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The resolution also called for the temporary withdrawal of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) granted to the island nation as the law is deemed incompatible with the conventions that the country has to implement under the GSP+ facility.
JVP General Secretary said there is a risk of losing the GSP+ facility regained in 2017 by the previous government on the condition that it replaces the PTA and effectively implements 27 international conventions, including on human rights.
The European Parliament which met on June 10 moved a resolution suspending the GSP+ concession with 628 votes in favor. Only 15 votes were cast against while 40 countries abstained.
“When a resolution against Sri Lanka is passed by a large margin of 628 votes in the European Union, it is a huge defeat for Sri Lanka in the international arena,” Tilvin Silva said.
“The government brags that there is no problem with those resolutions. But there is a serious problem with this. Sri Lanka’s export earnings from the European Union were 2.3 billion Euros. Most of the exports to the EU from the GSP Plus concession were garments and fish products. If the GSP concession is stopped, the quota for our garments will be lost. We have to compete in the open market. The same goes for fish production. As a result, the loss of revenue of 2.3 billion Euros will have a huge impact on the country’s workforce. The European Union is the second-largest export market. This market will be lost while the country is burdened with debt and is forced to borrow from Bangladesh as well.”
He said the government is using the PTA to take revenge from political opponents and suppress the opposition to the government. Three names have been specifically mentioned in the EU resolution for using this Act to suppress the opposition. Detention of Hijaz Hezbollah, Attorney-at-Law, Anas Jazeem and Shani Abeysekara, former Director of the CID have been noted especially and the resolution proposes that they be formally prosecuted or acquitted.
Mr. Silva said the problem of militarization in the country is also threatening. The government is using every means available to them to suppress the opposition. He explained that even quarantine laws are being used at this time for this purpose. The travel restrictions extended until the 21st to suppress the public opinion against the increase in fuel prices.
“The government has closed the country whenever it gets stuck in politics. If factories work, if government institutions function, if some business people are working with permits, if some shops are open, how can the country be closed?” Mr. Silva asked.
“Therefore, travel restrictions are not maintained to control the disease, but to suppress opposition to the government,” Silva said pointing out that the Covid deaths and cases are still increasing.
“This country has been brought down. Losing even the GSP relief income is not a simple matter at this time. If our economy is strong, of course, GSP relief is not needed. But at a time when the country is sick, and oxygen is being given to the country’s economy, due to the arbitrary and stupid policies of the government, what is currently available is being lost. It has become the government’s policy to silence those who point out shortcomings instead of getting those mistakes corrected. JVP General Secretary said the government should be held responsible for the economic damage caused by the possible loss of GSP+ concession and urged the people to unite to protect and build the country and to oppose repressive policies.