15/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - Speaking before the parliamentary committee on development, Sri Lanka's Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment felt that, after the end of the multi-fibre agreement in January 2005, the next EU generalised system of preferences (GSP) should take account of the specific features of sectors such as clothing. According to Anura Bandaranaike, the system should therefore provide for more favourable treatment for the clothing sector, which will be faced with serious difficulty in Sri Lanka. On the conflict with rebel separatists, the Tamil Tigers, the minister explained that President Chandrika Karatunga had floated a new peace initiative in order to achieve consensus among the parties represented in Parliament before launching negotiations with the Tamil Tigers. "Compared to these organisations, the Hamas is more like Cinderella", the minister says in a press release, while noting that the situation is not harming tourism, which is even booming, as Tamil Tigers do not target foreigners.