EU Warns Lanka At Risk

By Easwaran Rutnam- Monday, May 12, 2014

The European Union (EU), last week warned that there is a risk of grievances festering in Sri Lanka if they are not addressed soon and that could adversely affect the stability and prosperity of the country over the long term.

The Head of Delegation of the EU to Sri Lanka and Maldives David Daly said that the EU felt it was important to back the resolution on Sri Lanka submitted at the UNHRC as the concerns raised were serious.

“We feel that the issues raised in Geneva are very serious and if they are not sufficiently addressed by Sri Lanka, then they run the risk of allowing grievances to fester which could adversely affect the stability and prosperity of the country over the long term,” he said.

Speaking at an EU day function in Colombo last week, Daly said that the EU sees Sri Lanka as a good friend and it was as part of that friendship that the EU raised its concerns with Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.

“EU urges the government of Sri Lanka, and others, to strengthen their efforts to engage in a comprehensive reconciliation process in which HRs, political issues, justice and accountability and security issues all find their place,” he said.

Daly was speaking in front of several Ambassadors, diplomats, opposition parliamentarians and Government Ministers and officials including Ministers Douglas Devananda, Rajitha Senaratne, Tissa Vitarana and Deputy Minister Neomal Perera. The EU is the largest market for Sri Lanka’s exports – and a growing market too.

It is the largest source of foreign tourists to Sri Lanka and a key source of FDI into the country. In the 10 years up to 2015 the EU will have allocated over Rs 100 billion to Sri Lanka, most of it as grants.