Minister G L Peries admits rights violations in Sri Lanka:

Minister admits rights violations


Prof. Peiris delivering a speech in London (photo: Commonwealth Secretariat)
Minister says Sri Lanka adhered to international standards in textile factories
Human rights violations are occurring in Sri Lanka, a senior government minister has admitted.

Minister in charge of Investment Development, Prof. GL Peiris, told BBC Sandeshaya that the international community should understand the context in which these abuses taking place.

The minister who is in London to promote investment in Sri Lanka said the government has a duty to protect civilians ‘from explosions, things of that kind’.

GSP+ renewal

He was commenting on the accusations by international and Sri Lankan human rights watchdogs over gross rights violations in the wake of military action against the Tamil Tigers.


The criteria are complex and multiple. Sri Lanka’s strongest elements have to do with moral and ethical standards which prevail in government factories

Prof. Peiris on Sri Lanka's proposals for GSP+

An EU delegation that recently visited Sri Lanka indicated that the GSP+ may not be renewed as a result of government’s failure to take action to prevent rights violations.

"We expressed our serious concerns with the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, as indicated by a range of sources including reports from United Nations rapporteurs," Deputy Director General for External Relations of the European Commission Joao Machado said in a statement in June, this year.

The government is preparing a written application for GSP+ (Generalised System of Preferences plus-scheme), a concession offered to 15 developing countries, to be continued beyond 01 January 2009.

'International standards'

Enhancing human rights situation in the island was among the major conditions when the concession was offered to Sri Lanka and 14 other developing countries in 2005.


EU flags
EU expressed serious concern over Sri Lanka's rights abuses

All the 15 countries are required to make fresh applications for the concession to be continued for another three years, Minister Peiris said.

He added that Sri Lanka will submit the application before 31 October, as the European Commission is to make the final decision on 15 December.

“The criteria are complex and multiple. Sri Lanka’s strongest elements have to do with moral and ethical standards which prevail in government factories,” Prof. GL Peiris told BBCSinhala.com.

No child labour or sweat shops in Sri Lanka, the minister added, and the country has adhered to the standards with regard to the environment.