Following the Government’s decision to reject the report issued by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner on Sri Lanka, it has to evaluate future repercussions of the deed, State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products, Dayasiri Jayasekara told Sunday Observer Business. The Government has decided to reject the report prepared by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet on Sri Lanka claiming that it is in violation of the mandates of United Nations Human Rights Council, Co-Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Udaya Gammanpila informed the media last week. “We have already presented the Government’s stance to the United Nations. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardene will outline more details during his speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council at the end of February,” Minister Gammanpila said.However, the Government is yet to discuss the economic repercussions of the decision, particularly on the export-based industrial sector, the Sunday Observer learnt. “We have not discussed such things as yet. But we will have a discussion soon and inform the media,” Minister Jayasekara said. The European Union is the second-largest buyer of Sri Lankan products, following India, where 30 percent of Sri Lanka’s products are bought by Europeans.
In November last year, the EU delegation in Colombo issued a press release on concerns about Sri Lanka’s withdrawal of Resolution 30/1.
Sri Lanka was the EU’s 62nd largest trading partner in goods accounting for 0.1% of EU trade in 2016.
Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU are dominated by textiles and clothing, accounting for 82% of Sri Lanka’s total exports to the EU in 2016.
Textiles and clothing account for 61.9% of Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU, followed by food products with 12.3% in 2016.
EU imports from Sri Lanka have been relatively stable between 2007 and 2016, increasing only from €2,087 to €2,225 million.