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Policy measures if GSP+ is reversed: Cabraal

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ECONOMYNEXT – Any reversal of the USD 500 million European Union GSP+ trade concession for Sri Lanka could be met and handled through policy measures if such a contingency arises, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said .

Sri Lanka risks losing the EU’s Generalized Systems of Preference Plus (GSP+) trade concession from April next year if the government does not take strong measures to address human rights concerns as promised when the facility was restored in 2017.

GSP+ helped the garments industry here to earn over five billion US dollar export revenue.

“We believe that the impact of any reversal could be met with the policy measures that we would take in such an event,” Cabraal told a press briefing on October 14 when he was asked the size of the GSP+ trade concession.

“Therefore we have assured all the stakeholders that we would be able to deal with that situation in case there is any need to do so and we would not hesitate to do that.”

Sri Lanka has had problems with rule of law and freedoms of citizen with the deterioration of the independence of the public service and judiciary over several decades amid tinkering with the constitution in favour of the state and rulers, critics have said.

Sri Lanka is a European style nation-state with a legislating parliament, standing army and police but the institutions of liberty that should stand between the armed state and the people have weakened according to freedom advocates.

The European parliament adopted a resolution on June 10 calling for the repeal of Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and inviting the European Union (EU) Commission to consider temporarily withdrawing access to GSP+ if this is not done.

A five-member European Union (EU) delegation reviewed the country’s human rights situation while discussing with all the stakeholders of GSP+ benefits. But there have been renewed concerns about the country’s human rights record.

The EU is the second largest export destination for Sri Lankan products, and GSP+ has helped exporters to consolidate their position.

Sri Lanka lost the GSP+ in 2010 due to alleged human rights violations including war crimes in the final stage of the 26-year war that ended in 2009.

However, the commitment by the previous government to the international community to address human rights concerns in 2015 helped the country to regain the facility.

Small and medium sector garments and outsourced industries related to garment exporters faced closure after the GSP+ was withdrawn in 2010, but the industry rebounded later even without the trade concession.



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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