Elliot Colburn: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Backbench Business Committee debate on the UK response to the human rights and economic situation in Sri Lanka took place on Wednesday (9) in the House of Commons chamber.UK MPs called for Sri Lanka to cut down on its military spending to overcome the economic crisis.UK MP Elliot Colburn noted that for Sri Lanka to be rescued, it needs to reduce its military spending, which stands at $1.86 billion per annum. "All of Sri Lanka’s projections for emerging out of the economic crisis are predicated on the country retaining its generalised scheme of preferences and trade concession. That annual trade concession is worth more than $500 million and has boosted Sri Lanka’s exports to EU member states over the years," said the MP adding that however, Sri Lanka has failed to meet the key labour and human rights requirements for receiving that preferential treatment, and the EU recently issued a warning that it is set to lose its concession if it continues to ignore its obligations. "As a key stakeholder at the IMF, the UK Government should propose conditions on any IMF financial assistance for Sri Lanka during the current economic crisis, including that Sri Lanka should carry out a strategic defence and security review to reduce its military spending, remove the military from engaging in commercial activities, meet the criteria for GSP+, and re-engage with the UNHRC process.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – British MPs will hold a debate on the UK response to the human rights and economic situation in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (9).Elliot Colburn, Sarah Olney, Sir Stephen Timms and Theresa Villiers have put forward this debate  The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject. The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal.