The leader of the European Parliament delegation to Sri Lanka urged Sri Lanka to improve its human rights conditions, including the replacement of its anti-terror laws to regain the EU Generalised System of Preferences Plus trade concessions.
Speaking in Colombo after meeting government officials and representatives of civil society, Ms Jean Lambert said discussions had taken place on whether or not Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism laws met international standards.
Ms Jean added that a decision would be finalised in May 2017, reports Reuters.
"On GSP+, MEPs stressed that the decision on Sri Lanka's application will also need the approval of the European Parliament, and that the application's success is dependent on tangible progress by Sri Lanka in areas of concern,” an EU statement said.
The EU delegation met with both the leader of the Tamil National ALliane R Sampanthan and the Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister CV WIgneswaran during the visit.
The visit came after Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe headed a delegation to Brussels last year to discuss the reinstatement of the GSP+ preferential trade tariff.
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