No Constitutional amendments needed for GSP+

The Government yesterday categorically stated that no Constitutional Amendments are needed to qualify for GSP Plus status from the European Union.
"The Government has rejected this view consistently and unequivocally. The Government's position is now amply vindicated by an authoritative ruling of the Supreme Court that the rights in question are firmly embedded in our legal system and are enforceable through the judicial process in Sri Lanka," a Government statement stated yesterday.
It has been maintained that compliance with conditions for obtaining GSP+ concessions is impossible without amending of Sri Lanka's Constitution.
This argument, propagated mainly by an NGO, is entirely erroneous and based on untruths, the statement added.
The Government's response to this is that it would be not merely irresponsible but indeed wicked to deprive hundreds of thousands of workers of their livelihoods on the basis of a construction of the law which was clearly erroneous and which the highest Court in the land has now held to be fundamentally wrong.
This is the view expressed by the NGO and echoed by the Leader of the Opposition, which is now conclusively rejected by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
It is now irrefutably established that the call for the initiatives proposed by the NGO and supported by the Leader of the Opposition is based on a profound misconstruction of the law. The propaganda which has been carried out strenuously on this flawed footing, has caused, and is continuing to cause, grave damage to Sri Lanka's cause.
"It is much to be regretted that these obstacles and impediments arise entirely from action by groups within our shores, deliberately calculated to prejudice the minds of decision-makers on grounds which are demonstrably unwarranted.
Against these odds, the Government remains steadfast in its resolve to do everything in its power to protect the trade and economic interests of this nation, while upholding its sovereignty and legitimate sense of pride."