SRI LANKA: Garment Industry wants peace for future prosperity
BharatTextile.com (subscription), India
JAFFNA: The recent visit of US Assistant Secretary for State, Richard Boucher has brought to the fore what the international community thinks about Sri Lanka. The deteriorating human rights situation, the threats to media freedom and the absence of progress in the formulation of a government proposal for a political solution to the ethnic conflict are the main causes the European Union has sore relations with the country.
Mr Boucher’s showed solidarity with the civilian victims of the ongoing military confrontation between Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.
Sri Lanka’s garment industry is dependent on the goodwill of the western countries. The European Union provides Sri Lankan garment exports the benefit of duty free status. The 12.5 percent duty waiver that Sri Lankan exports receive gives tham advantage against Chinese exports who do not have 12.5 percent duty waver.
If the EU withdraws this concession given to Sri Lanka the Sri Lankan garment industry will be almost finished, as it will reduce the country’s foreign exchange earnings and will affect the livelihoods of thousands of families.
The Western countries are more worried about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and the shift in power away from the Bush administration to the Democrats. International human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been openly critical of the government.
Mr Boucher has reiterated US government’s commitment to help Sri Lanka face the threat of terrorism.
There is almost a breakdown in communication between the western countries and Sri Lanka government. The average Sri Lankan wants peace, a just solution to the ethnic conflict and the hope of prosperity for their children.
