The government is reportedly working to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act with the aim of extending the GSP+ tax concession granted to Sri Lankan exports by the European Union.
A group of EU representatives is scheduled to visit the country in May to review the granting of the GSP+ tax concession. They have stated that the amendment or repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act is a condition of their main agenda.
At that time, the media had reported that Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando had said that Sri Lanka was going to discuss with them about obtaining the GSP+ concession for export diversification. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has also said that the government is ready to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
In particular, the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act by previous governments to suppress the people and fulfill their political interests has caused great displeasure from the European Union.