Responding to the European Union (EU) Parliament’s adoption of a Resolution on Sri Lanka yesterday (10) which stated that the Members of Parliament (MP) propose to use the GSP+ as a leverage to push for advancement on Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations and demand the repeal or replacement of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated that Sri Lanka’s relationship with the EU will continue to positively move forward. “Sri Lanka and the EU have been having friendly relations on all these matters” Gunawardena told The Morning. Further, he also stated that Sri Lanka has already started to take positive steps to address what is referred to in the Resolution which was moved by the MP’s of the EU Parliament. “We have already begun the process of addressing what is in the Resolution, perhaps the members (EU MPs) did not know about this,” he stated. Gunawardena also added that because these issues were raised in the Resolution without the knowledge of the current situation on the ground in Sri Lanka, there will be no problems in overcoming such matters. When questioned if Sri Lanka’s GSP+ privileges are at risk, Gunawardena stated that even though the EU MPs are making such requests through the Resolution, it is the Commission which will make any decisions, after negotiations with Sri Lanka. The EU Parliament resolution on Sri Lanka was adopted yesterday (10) with 628 votes in favour, 15 against and 40 abstentions.