October 2008-2009 – EU investigates Sri Lanka’s commitment to the human rights requirements to receive GSP+ trade concessions and finds that the country had significant shortcomings with regard to three covenants; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention against Torture (CAT) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These three, among 27 international conventions are essential qualifying criteria for GSP+.
February 2010 – EU member states decide to withdraw GSP+ for Sri Lanka stating that the country had not followed through with three UN human rights conventions that were relevant to receive benefits from the scheme.
March 2010 – Sri Lanka sends a delegation to Brussels to negotiate the GSP+ withdrawal
May 2010 – The senior Sri Lankan delegation, including P. B. Jayasundara, Romesh Jayasinghe and Mohan Peiris, makes a second visit to Brussels and has several meetings with EU representatives.
17 June 2010 – Lady Katherine Ashton (EU’s Foreign Policy Commissioner) sends Sri Lanka a letter stating that the GSP+ concession could be extended for an additional 6 months, subject to a clear, written commitment by the Sri Lankan Government to carry out the 15 conditions attached to the letter.
23 June 2010 – Sri Lankan Cabinet unequivocally rejects EU conditions in reports to the media
