Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has warned that Sri Lanka risks losing its crucial GSP+ trade concessions from the European Union if the government enacts repressive anti-terrorism legislation.
He said that replacing existing security measures with harsher laws could jeopardize duty-free access to European markets.
The warning arrives amid mounting scrutiny over the draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill and the Prevention of Organised Crime Bill, both of which have drawn public objections from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
Brussels has consistently called for the complete repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to reinforce democratic protections, warning against substitute laws that broaden state powers to label citizens as terrorists.
The Opposition Leader contends that the ruling party is attempting to fortify executive authority under the pretext of national security to mask unfulfilled campaign promises, including lowering utility costs and providing relief to small businesses, farmers, and workers.
Rather than consolidating political power, the administration has been called upon to pursue constitutional reforms that uphold fundamental liberties and citizen sovereignty.
Although the potential cancellation of GSP+ benefits remains a political assessment rather than a formal directive from European authorities, the commercial risk for domestic exporters remains substantial.
Undermining core democratic freedoms imperils both the country's international standing and its fragile economic recovery, he added.
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