Europe must continue aid to Sri Lanka, says Archbishop of Colombo

(Sept.23,2009): - In Sri Lanka, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo appealed to the European Union, EU, not to suspend the special trade agreement signed with Sri Lanka. He highlighted the fact that economic aids are essential for the reconciliation in the country, after decades of war. After the tsunami in December 2004, the EU sustained progress in the economy of Sri Lanka, by means of the Generalized System of Preferences – GSP Plus, that aids the entry of the textile industry into the UE markets, which is the driving force of the national economy. Now the GSP Plus is not likely to be renewed for the long time differences between Brussels and Colombo. For quite some time the EU has asked for clarifications regarding the suspected violation of human rights by the military in Colombo during the war, but the government of President Rajapaksa does not reply using its “sovereignty” as an excuse.
In his appeal, presented to the Press on Monday, Archbishop Ranjith asks Europe to “continue the GSP Plus and all other means of help for Sri Lanka” defining them as “the best means by which the European community can help the resettlement of the refugees”. He said over 200 thousand Tamil refugees are still in the camps.