Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has said greater understanding of the respective positions and the need to continue to engage in a dialogue was achieved, through his interactions in Brussels aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s continued retention of the GSP+ facility with the relevant European Commissioners. He said while Sri Lanka would not agree to subject itself to any intrusion of its sovereignty, it was ready for continued engagement and dialogue on any concerns the EU might have regards Sri Lanka benefitting from this facility.

 The Foreign Minister made these observations during a question and answer session that followed an address to members of the European Parliament, hosted by the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ Group. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Belgium, Luxembourg and EU Ravinatha Aryasinha, Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms Suhada Gamlath, Commissioner General of Essential Services S.B. Divaratna, Dr. Rohan Perera, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on International Legal Affairs and Chair of the Committee developing the National Human Rights Action Plan, and Ms.Kshenuka Senewiratne, DG/ Europe and CIS, were also associated with the Minister in the discussion, Sri Lankan Embassy in Brussels said in a release.