Sri Lanka must prove it meets GSP+ conditions: UK envoy

Oct 16, 2008 (LBO) - British high commissioner Peter Hayes said Thursday his government hopes Sri Lanka will be able to renew the GSP+ trade deal that allows duty free exports to the European Union. Britain hopes the government will be able to provide the evidence needed to show it has complied with the conditions required to renew the GSP+ deal, he told a meeting of the . European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.

"The UK government's position is that (GSP Plus renewal) is a technical exercise," Hayes said.

"The GSP Plus regulations require compliance with 27 regulations and the process of assessing whether they are being complied with.

"So we hope Sri Lanka is successful. We hope the government will provide the information, the evidence necessary to show that it is meeting those regulations."

Sri Lanka has to comply with international conventions on labour and human rights to ensure compliance with the GSP Plus rules.

Media minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane told a news conference that the government has not taken a decision to block any investigation by EU authorities into Sri Lanka's compliance with GSP Plus conditions.

He was reacting to news reports that Presiden