Colombo, April 30 (Daily Mirror) – The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) has submitted a comprehensive five-point proposal to the visiting European Union GSP+ Monitoring Delegation urging that any future extension of the GSP+ trade concession to Sri Lanka be strictly conditioned on measurable and time-bound progress in areas of human rights, democratic reform and social justice.
The TPA said in a statement that the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by Mano Ganesan MP, held a high-level diplomatic meeting with the visiting European Union GSP+ Monitoring Delegation in Colombo.
The TPA delegation included Deputy Leader V. Radhakrishnan MP, Barath Arullsamy (Vice President – International Affairs & Communications), and Sakshin Ganesan (Secretary – Legal Affairs).
Representing the European Union were Ambassador Carmen Moreno, Political Officer Ms. Carolina Lopez and five members of the GSP+ Monitoring Mission, led by Charles Whiteley.
During the meeting, TPA leader Mano Ganesan emphasised that the Tamil people have placed their trust in the European Union as a final international partner capable of holding Sri Lanka accountable. With international momentum on Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations diminishing—particularly from key actors such as the United States—the EU’s role is now more vital than ever.
The five key conditions and reform benchmarks presented by the TPA are as follows:
1. Immediate Suspension of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)
The current Penal Code is sufficient to address modern security concerns. If a new anti-terrorism law is deemed necessary, it must be developed through inclusive consultation and passed via parliamentary debate. Until then, the use of the PTA must be immediately suspended. This position aligns with the past stance of progressive political actors such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
2. Revival of the Constitutional Reform Process
The current administration, during its election campaign, pledged to resume the Constitutional reform process initiated under the previous Good Governance government. Both Mano Ganesan and the current President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, served on the prior Constitutional Steering Committee. Delays spanning years would render the process ineffective. The constitutional dialogue must recommence immediately, with a commitment to adopt a new constitution within this calendar year—one that ensures meaningful power-sharing to address the national ethnic question.
3. Establishment of a Truth Commission and Accountability Mechanism
A credible Truth Commission must be established without delay to investigate into enforced disappearances and ensure accountability through robust legal and investigative procedures. This must lead to tangible justice, not symbolic actions.
4. Release of Long-Term Tamil Political Prisoners
All Tamil political detainees held under the PTA must be unconditionally and immediately released. At present, at least ten individuals remain incarcerated without adequate due process. A formal list compiled by M. Gomagan (on behalf of “Voice of the Voiceless”) and transmitted via Comrade Rajkumar Rajeevkanth of the People’s Struggle Front was submitted to the EU GSP+ Monitoring Delegation.
5. Inclusion of the Hill Country Tamil (Plantation) Community under GSP+ Human Rights Monitoring
The TPA called on the EU to include the Hill Country Tamil plantation community—one of Sri Lanka’s most socio-economically marginalised populations—under its GSP+ human rights monitoring framework. Specific concerns outlined include:
(a) The tea industry that supplies European consumers is powered by workers living in conditions akin to modern slavery.
(b) Due to poor inclusion in national social protection systems, these communities rely heavily on private estate companies, leaving them structurally vulnerable.
(c) There has been no shift from exploitative daily-wage labour to collective or equity-based employment models.
(d) Systematic exclusion from national development has resulted in widespread denial of land ownership, housing, education, healthcare, livelihoods, public services and administrative inclusion.
The TPA strongly urged the EU to require measurable improvements in these areas as a precondition for Sri Lanka’s continued access to the GSP+ scheme.