Speaking with Economy Next, Denis Chaibi, the European Union’s (EU) Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, raised alarm over Sri Lanka’s proposed replacement to the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), highlighting the centralisation of power within the presidency and lack of transparency.
The proposed replacement comes in advance of a decision the EU will need to make on whether or not to extend trade concessions to Sri Lanka under the General System of Preferences Plus (GSP+). Despite the EU repeatedly raising concerns over the island’s dire human rights record and failure to replace the PTA. A failure to extend the GSP+ arrangement could cost the island over $500 million worth of trade concession.
In February, Germany’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Holger Seubert, wared:
"This phase of GSP+ is coming to an end and there is a risk that Sri Lanka might lose it. Sri Lanka cannot afford to lose it at this juncture".
In detailing his concerns, Chaibi noted that whilst the EU designates terrorist outfits, it is done by “a process that is based on public information that is reviewable by Justice [department], that is submitted to different checks and balances”. In contrast, in Sri Lanka, the process is far less transparent.
“The possibility for one president to decide that the [individual] is a terrorist that should be put in jail is quite a very strong power that exists at the moment. But it seems that it remains so or perhaps we have to wait till we analyse the text, since that is a source of concern” Chabi notes.
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