London, Sep 15 - Exports of Sri Lankan clothes and sportswear to Europe face being banned over allegations of human rights abuses, a diplomat from the country confirmed Tuesday.

Although the European Union has asked the Sri Lankan government to respond to the allegations of human rights abuses during the civil war this year, a London-based Sri Lankan diplomat said, 'Their minds seem to be made up'.

'We are exploring alternatives,' the diplomat told IANS, and replied in the affirmative when asked if he meant plans to marketing in India and elsewhere in Asia.

'This will hit the people, not the government,' he added.

The European Union decided to withdraw trade benefits under the General System of Preference Plus after human rights consultants hired by it reported police torture, abduction of journalists and uninvestigated disappearances during the civil war against Tamil separatists ending in May.

They alleged 'complete or virtually complete impunity in Sri Lanka', and criticised the detention of nearly 300,000 ethnic Tamils in internment camps following the defeat of rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, The Times newspaper reported Tuesday.