United States Strongly Supports Sri Lanka: Hillary Clinton

[Lankan Ranger]

United States Strongly Supports Sri Lanka: Hillary Clinton

In a boost to Sri Lanka’s continued opposition to the appointment of a UN panel to probe human rights issues in the island, the US said it feels the Commission of Reconciliation appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa “holds promise”.

At a joint press briefing following talks with External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris, Friday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said they talked about the continuing role of the United Nations, which intends to have an independent oversight role in Sri Lanka but she felt the local commission holds promise and expects that it will fulfill that promise.

“The United States strongly supports political and ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Such commissions of inquiry have played an important role in advancing accountability and redressing wrongs in other countries emerging from periods of internal strife. Sri Lanka’s commission should apply the best practices from these other commissions and should have the mandate to investigate any allegations of war crimes,” she said.

Clinton noted that Sri Lanka will remain a strong, united country by drawing on the strength of all of its citizens, valuing the diversity of its people, and ensuring equal rights for everyone.

Minister Peiris meanwhile said that the commission which has been set up in Sri Lanka consists of the people of stature and independence with a mandate that is broad enough to address the critical issues – the mandate specifically empowers the commission to give their minds to these issues.

“So our plea is that we be given the space to allow the commission to begin its work without impediment or without hindrance. And certainly, along the road, if we feel that there is a need for support, then we would certainly be happy to engage in a dialogue with the United Nations to get the benefit of the wisdom and the experience of the United Nations,” he said.

Clinton meanwhile further noted that the experience in other countries has shown that such a commission that has the credibility and legitimacy within the country has a valuable role in advancing accountability.

US backs local commission

 

[Lankan Ranger]

 

[SpArK]

Good to see United States starting to support Srilanka.. The country has huge potential to become a major economic hub and a wonderful tourist destination.

 

[samv]

U.S. State Dept lifts travel warning on Sri Lanka

Updated 9:39 a.m. ET May 27, 2010

WASHINGTON - The State Department announced Wednesday it had canceled a travel warning for Sri Lanka, in a boost for the Indian Ocean island state that ended a long war last year and hopes to draw more tourists.

The end of the travel warning comes just over a year after Sri Lanka declared victory over the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) following 27 years of civil war.

The LTTE had not staged any attacks in the capital Colombo or elsewhere in Sri Lanka since then, the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. State Dept lifts travel warning on Sri Lanka - South and Central Asia- msnbc.com

 

[samv]

Sri Lanka welcomes end to US travel warning

(AFP) – 1 day ago

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka on Thursday welcomed the lifting of a US warning against travel to the Indian Ocean island, anticipating a boost to tourism and investment a year after a bloody civil war ended.

"This is something we have been looking forward to," tourism bureau chief Dileep Mudadeniya said. "It will have a knock-on effect on (travel) insurance rates and also encourage more business travel from the West."

The US announcement came soon after the first anniversary of the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in a brutal military offensive that finally ended the guerrillas' separatist campaign after 37 years of war.

The conflict claimed up to 100,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates.

The US State Department said in a statement that it had "cancelled the Travel Warning for Sri Lanka due to improvements in safety and security conditions throughout the country".

Tourists were not directly targeted even during the worst of fighting between troops and Tamil Tigers, but the violence seriously affected the island's image.

The tourism industry is now staging a dramatic revival. The number of holidaymakers arriving in the four months to April this year rose nearly 50 percent from a year earlier to just under 200,000.

The industry is hoping to attract 2.5 million visitors by 2016, up from 447,890 in 2009. It is also hoping to earn two billion dollars annually in tourist revenue by 2016, up from 350 million dollars last year.

AFP: Sri Lanka welcomes end to US travel warning

 

[graphican]

USA fears Sri Lanka going under Chinese influence and China wouldn't let ports of SriLanka slip under US/Indian influence. Both sides are willing to offer Sri Lanka more than the other. What a golden time it is for Sri Lankans these days.

 

[samv]

Actually I think USA's softening of stance towards Sri Lanka is partly due to India's influence.

If you read this:

Briefing on U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue
http://www.state.gov/p/sca/rls/rmks/2010/142372.htm


QUESTION:And a quick one on Sri Lanka: Is it all hunky-dory now? (Laughter.) There was a – because I remember the Secretary calling President Mahinda Rajapaksa and very angrily telling him that they would like a ceasefire. And there was even the Pentagon sort of getting ready to even transport some of the IDPs. But they were getting all that aid from China and Iran; they told the U.S. to take a hike, went on. So is everything hunky-dory now.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE: With respect to Sri Lanka, I would say that, as the Secretary herself said, that she had a very productive meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Peiris. They had a chance to have a really extensive and productive review of all of the important issues that you’ve heard me talk about a lot – political reconciliation, accountability, the need to resettle the internally displaced people as quickly as possible, the need to improve the human rights situation. All of those were covered in a very good exchange between our two ministers.


The USA's attempt to ferry out LTTE leaders during the closing chapters of the war was opposed both by Sri Lanka and India. I think the USA recognises Sri Lanka as being in India's 'sphere of influence' and has made great strides to build a defence relationship with India. I have no doubt that US policy towards Sri Lanka is at the very least partly guided by Indian views and Indian security considerations. Which is good for Sri Lanka because the island maintains the closest and most cordial relationship with India.

 

[Parashuram1]

Old strategic games played for the umpteenth time by a world superpower. But hopefully this will bring about a massive future technological cooperation between United States and the island nation of Sri Lanka.

 

[IndianArmy]

Which is the country which USA dosent support, when hilary is on the run, I wouldnt be surprised if she says US supports Iraq and Iran Aswell.... It comes from within U know(Lies)

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Yanks have there eyes on that Island ..! wonder whats purpose. may be to station a carrier battle fleet ..!