Sri Lanka has requested European Union Parliament to provide continued access to GSP+ concessions which provides duty free access for Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU market.

The request was made when a multi-party delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry participated in an interactive discussion with the visiting EU delegation led by Heidi HAUTALA Finnish Member of the European Union Parliament (MEP) from the group of the Greens who is also Vice-President and the Rapporteur for New GSP Regulation of the European 
Union Parliament.   

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, and eight MPs representing the Government and the Opposition parties of Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) participated in the meeting.  

The discussion centred on matters related to bilateral cooperation in the context of further consolidating ties between the two legislatures.   

Sri Lanka side apprised the MEPs of the current economic and political developments in the country and also on overall progress in reconciliation and human rights situation including proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The EU Co-chair HAUTALA welcomed progress in EU – Sri Lanka bilateral relations and briefed on issues of importance to the EU such as new climate friendly regulations being adopted in the EU (European Green Deal), Ukraine conflict, inflation in the European region and future EU integration.   
The South Asia Delegation called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in Parliament on Wednesday.  

The speaker pointed out that the government has taken measures to alleviate the economic crisis in Sri Lanka and many positive measures have been implemented in the recent past, such as the adoption of the Anti-Corruption Act, the establishment of a budget office in the Parliament to carry out financial control activities more efficiently and transparently.

• The discussion centred on matters related to bilateral cooperation in the context of further consolidating ties between the two legislatures