By Saman Indrajith

While the SJB was trying to convince the EU delegation that Sri Lanka should not be deprived of the GSP plus concession on the grounds of the government’s failure to uphold human rights and democracy in the country, the government displayed utter disregard to those values by getting the CID to harass journalists, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament on Tuesday (5).

“While the delegation of EU experts was in the country, the CID was chasing after journalists for exposing a garlic scam. The CID summoned Messrs.’ Prabath Sahabandu, Shamindra Ferdinanado, Siri Ranasinghe, Sujith Hewajulige and Chaminda Silva for their exposing of the garlic scam,” MP Kiriella said.

Kiriella said that investigations should have been conducted on issues such as the Pandora Papers exposure. “I saw a government minister stating that they would conduct an investigation only if they receive a complaint regarding the issue of a Lankan having 163 million US dollars in a foreign bank account. There is no need for a complaint. India and Pakistan too have commenced investigations. All over the world investigations are in progress on such matters while our investigators are used to coerce those who do not toe the government line,” MP Kiriella said adding that the continuance of the GSP plus concession to Sri Lanka was uncertain owing to the government conduct.

“When we met with the EU delegation we explained to them the need for the continuation of GSP plus despite allegations against the country’s human rights record. The government should keep in mind that it is not our job to tell the world that the country is right. There is no point in us telling that or either Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris telling that. It should be the international community saying so. We have lost in the Human Rights Council in Geneva and we do not know what will happen to the GSP plus concession.”

“Today the ministers are speaking of a forex crisis. All they have to do is plan to get hold of that 163 million US dollars in the foreign bank, it could solve our forex problem.”

“We saw President Gotabaya Rajapaksa saying that he was ready to talk to the Tamil Diaspora. That is a positive trend. We approve that gesture by the President and ensure all our support for that,” Kiriella said.