Sri Lanka responds to EU rights probe concerns

By Shihar Aneez

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka delivered its formal response on Friday to a European Union probe that found it in breach of international human rights laws and said it was hopeful of retaining a lucrative trade concession with the bloc.

The EU had set Friday as a deadline for Sri Lanka to respond to its report, which European diplomats had said meant the Indian Ocean island was likely to lose concessions worth more than $100 million for its top export, garments.

The concession, the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) is a special incentive scheme for sustainable development and good governance, offering tariff cuts to support vulnerable developing countries in ratification and implementation of international conventions in these areas.

"We will be setting out to clarify the points they have raised," said Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. "We are continuing the dialogue with the EU and we are hopeful that finally that GSP+ is granted."

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama later handed the response document to all EU member states represented in Colombo, the ministry said in a statement.

"Minister Bogollagama -- expressed confidence that the observations provided by Sri Lanka would be extensively examined by the European Commission and the findings reflected in its recommendation to the Council of the European Union," it said.

The EU's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Bernard Savage, told Reuters after receiving the report that he expected a decision from the European Commission later this month.

EU diplomats have said Sri Lanka could retain the concession, if it could address concerns raised, including rapid resettlement of more than 150,000 war displaced, release of an arrested journalist, ensuring media freedom and protecting human rights.