Former Minister Bandula Gunawardena warned that the detention of high-profile figures under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), including former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay, could jeopardise Sri Lanka’s GSP+ trade concessions with the European Union.
Addressing the media, Gunawardena said the European Union had consistently raised concerns over the PTA and the detention of individuals under its provisions, viewing such cases through the lens of human rights.
He said the continued detention of Pillayan and Sallay, together with recent deaths of inmates and prison officers in Sri Lanka’s prison system, could negatively influence the EU’s assessment of the country’s eligibility for GSP+.
Gunawardena cautioned that losing the concession would result in Sri Lankan exports to the European market being subjected to additional tariffs ranging from 5% to 12.5% or higher, reducing the country’s competitiveness.
He noted that Sri Lanka must apply for the extension of the GSP+ concession before the end of this year to ensure its continuation next year.
Expressing confidence in the Government’s diplomatic efforts, Gunawardena said he hoped the Foreign Minister and relevant officials would effectively engage with international stakeholders to safeguard the concession.
He further noted that Sri Lanka was expected to conclude its current IMF programme by March 20, 2027, after which it would no longer receive IMF budgetary or balance of payments support, making continued access to GSP+ increasingly important for the country’s economic stability.
