‘Govt. did not submit country to EU jurisdiction’

The government did not intervene in the case heard by a EU court regarding the ban on the LTTE since it would amount to the submission of the country to the jurisdiction of another country, Minister G.L.Peiris told Parliament yesterday.

The Minster was responding to the accusation that the government did not intervene in this legal case which led to the lifting of the ban imposed on the LTTE in the region. He said though the government did not intervene, it remained engaged with the parties involved in the case by giving them necessary information. Soon after the court announced its ruling, he said he convened a meeting with the ambassadors and high commissioners of European Union member states accredited to Colombo. He said a number of measures that could be taken both by the individual states and the European Union, was discussed at this meeting. The Minister said the member states could enact domestic laws banning the LTTE in their respective countries. Besides, the European Union can appeal against this ruling.