GTF campaigns no threat to Sri Lanka - Dr. Amunugama

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

Business circles have called for speedy action by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to combat malicious economic campaigns carried out against Sri Lanka by a fringe group called GTF (Global Tamil Forum).
“Their strategies to boycott Sri Lankan products and the holding of meetings with the participation of local VIPs such as British Foreign Secretary David Miliband only demolishes their political agenda,” stressed Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama.
He said that there are about 100 such fringe groups and the Foreign Ministry is being briefed on what is happening. “However discussions are not aimed at combating such silly campaigns, altogether.”
Reliable sources revealed that this group has had some impact on the GSP+ grant, as the GTF is the same old LTTE-backed group, simply repackaged. The UK source revealed that they pay their local politicians phenomenally to speak on behalf of GTF.
The Board of Investment (BoI) Executive Director for Research and Policy Advocacy, Dr Nihal Samarappuli said there are allegations that the GTF may have had a hand in suspending GSP+, but it is only a one-sided decision by the EU; to grant it or not.
He also added that it’s the Foreign Ministry that needs to take counter measures. “The government is fully aware of it. The BoI is not in a situation to do it alone. Other organisations too should join the campaign,” he said adding that “there is a bigger Tamil disapora which also don’t join such campaigns. This indicates the GTF is a small group.
“Yet, it’s not a case to ignore. We need to combat it at the grassroot level. We also should not worry about GSP+ because we are competing with other markets equally. Though slashing GSP+ is a loss, it will only be a temporary setback to Sri Lanka”.
Central Bank Governor Ajit Nivard Cabraal said, “Despite concerns, we don’t get much involved in politics. We have made necessary arrangements to move forward. Getting it or not, there is a risk management scheme in place to handle it.”