EU office in Colombo still awaiting an official response from the Sri Lankan government

The European Unions (EU) Commission in Colombo is still awaiting an official response from the Sri Lankan government to the conditions laid down by the European Commission to extend the GSP Plus trade concession to the country.


EU Commissioner to Sri Lanka Bernard Savage told ColomboPage that although the July 1 deadline set by the Commission lapsed last week, the EU was still hopeful of receiving an official response from the Sri Lankan government.

"The final decision of the EU would depend on the government's response," he said.
Savage observed that the EU has already sought contact, through the usual means, with the Sri Lankan government to build a dialogue on the matter.
The government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella last month said the government is ready to terminate talks on the GSP Plus with the EU as it would not abide by the 15 conditions the EU had set forth for the extension of the trade facility.