Deputy finance minister Sarath Amunugama said in his budget speech to Parliament that the defense spending for 2010 has been estimated to be $1.64 billion, down only slightly from the previous year's $1.65 billion.A budget for year 2010 was not presented when it was due in November last year because of approaching presidential and parliamentary elections.A second budget will be presented in November this year for 2011.Government forces defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels ending a 25-year civil war in May last year.Amunugama also said Sri Lanka was looking to move away from traditional markets for its garments after the European Union said it was not extend preferential trade status unless the island nation gave a written pledge to improve its human rights record. The government rejected EU's request to fulfill 15 conditions to extend the GSP Plus concessions, due to expire on Aug.15.Amunugama said the garment trade has been put under «undue pressure» by those with political objectives.«However, this country needs to reduce the over-reliance on traditional markets and move toward new economies,» Amunugama said.Sri Lanka exports about euro1.24 billion ($1.7 billion) worth of goods to Europe per year. Losing the trade preferences would cost the country some euro78 million ($96 million), based on its 2008 exports.Human rights groups have accused Sri Lanka of perpetrating human rights violations during its fight against the Tamil rebels.According to UN documents more than 7,000 people were killed in the last five months of fighting alone.