Lanka will not allow any probe to obtain GSP+ - Minister

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangaika RANGE

Sri Lanka will never give into conditions on investigations by any foreign country or institution to obtain the GSP Plus tax relief, said Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris.

Prof. Peiris told Parliament yesterday that Sri Lanka has applied for the GSP Plus tax relief for a further three years. The Minister said the final decision of securing the continuation of this GSP Plus tax relief would be revealed by December 31 this year.

“Foreigners will not be able to interfere with Sri Lanka’s sovereignty,” he said.

Minister Peiris was replying to an oral question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Brussels has been instructed to lobby to secure the tax relief and to discuss with the European Commission. “We are committed to obtain this tax relief, but we will not submit ourselves for any investigation by any country to extend the GSP Plus facility,” he said.