British Minister brings gloomy news

At a meeting with Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and other councillors in Trincomalee yesterday, visiting British Minister Malloch Brown, said that there were human rights violations in Sri Lanka, and therefore he could not guarantee the extension of the GSP+ facility given to Sri Lankan exports to the European Union under these circumstances.

The British Minister held talks with the councillors on a wide range of issues and UNP member Daya Gamage who is also the proprietor of several garment factories emphasized the need to extend this facility citing that it would otherwise cause a crippling effect on the apparel industry here.

Provincial Minister M.L.A.M.Hizbullah told the British delegation that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which provided for the establishment should be implemented in full. He said that police and land powers are yet to be given to the provincial councils.

The councilors said they had not received sufficient funds from the Government to start development work in the province.

The Chief Minister said at the meeting that he was very much interested in establishing durable peace in the East which was devastated by the decades-long war. He said that his province was under developed.

Provincial Chairman M.K.D.S.Gunawardane took up the issue of accommodation of Sinhala medium students to the Eastern and South Eastern Universities, and said the need was to establish yet another university in the East to improve education opportunities.

British High Commissioner Dr.Peter Hayes also participated in the meeting meant for identifying problems faced by the newly established Eastern Provincial Council.