With regard to the European Commission press release, "Commission statement on GSP+ and Sri Lanka" of December 15, 2009, Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama observed that the Sri Lankan Government had impressed upon the EU that any hasty decision with regard to GSP + will contribute to the perception that the EU is seeking to influence the electoral process in Sri Lanka.

He stated this when he met the Head of the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Bernard Savage, yesterday (20 Dec).
The Foreign Minister observed that regrettably, this perception has been reinforced by the timing, which can only be termed as unfortunate, of the Commission's December 15 announcement on its intent to temporarily suspend the EU GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka.

The Minister expressed confidence in the Government's ability to safeguard the country's democratic institutions and the sovereign right of its people of all communities to exercise their franchise, free of undue or unwarranted influence, during the upcoming election.

Ambassador Bernard Savage briefed the Foreign Minister on the developments connected with the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty which came into force on December 1.