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Sri Lanka ‘not concerned’ about prospect of losing GSP-Plus

The Sri Lankan government claimed that it was “not concerned” over the possible loss of GSP-Plus trade concessions from the European Union over plans to reinstate the death penalty on the island.

Colombo Gazette quoted Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne as stating that regardless, his government would push ahead with plans to implement capital punishment.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena pledged that he would press ahead with implementing capital punishment on the island, despite several Western states, including the European Union, week expressing their opposition.

“The President is firm that no matter what facility we lose the death penalty must be implemented on these convicts,” said Mr Senaratne.

Earlier this year a delegation of the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) highlighted the need for Sri Lanka to make progress in implementing international human rights conventions relevant to the GSP+ trade concession.

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