COLOMBO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will continue to enjoy the GSP+ (Generalized System of Preferences Plus) duty-free access to the European Union (EU) market for around 6,400 tariff lines, from January 1, 2009 to the end of 2011, a leading English newspaper reported Friday.

    According to the Sri Lankan government's official newspaper Daily News, the EU has decided to extend this facility for another three years to Sri Lanka and 15 other developing countries, under the EU's special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance.

    Preferences under the GSP+ are in addition to the standard Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) extended to the developing countries.

    Duty-free access means a considerable tariff reduction over the rates applied under the regular GSP scheme, said the newspaper.

    The GSP+ provides an important incentive to developing countries to ratify and effectively implement a set of international standards in the fields of human rights, core labor standards, sustainable development and good governance.

    The Sri Lankan government said earlier that the extension of the GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka while being in force is subject to the findings of inquiries being conducted by the EU on the implementation of certain UN and ILO conventions.

    Sri Lanka are facing accusations of human rights violations against a backdrop of escalating military conflicts between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north.

    The inquiries, started in October, was expected to be completed within one year.