By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): In an unprecedented move several US Senators have introduced a bicameral and bipartisan resolution calling for accountability in Sri Lanka.
These U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Jim Risch, Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Bill Johnson, have introduced this resolution recently.
The resolution urges the Government of Sri Lanka to listen to and respect the rights of the Sri Lankan people by addressing corruption, ensuring justice and accountability for human rights abuses, and holding free and fair local and provincial elections without further delay.
The resolution recognizes that the people of Sri Lanka have faced a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis which has had devastating human impact.
It also notes that this crisis is exacerbated by government corruption, financial mismanagement, failures in the rule of law, and predatory lending associated with the People’s Republic of China.
The Sri Lankan government is not doing enough to address endemic corruption and impunity, and has weakened Sri Lanka’s democracy by indefinitely postponing local elections.
Many of those responsible for this crisis are also implicated in human rights abuses against Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims across Sri Lanka dating back to the civil war.
“The people of Sri Lanka deserve peace, prosperity, and justice,” said Chair Cardin addding that “Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic, governance, and humanitarian crises – which have had crippling impacts on the Sri Lankan people.
These factors are exacerbated by the Sri Lankan government’s unwillingness to meaningfully address the devastating legacy and impacts of its civil war and provide justice to those who suffered serious human rights abuses.
He said “This resolution makes clear that the United States stands with the people of Sri Lanka in their effort to form a more inclusive, just, democratic, and economically sustainable future.”
“Strengthening Sri Lanka’s democracy supports a more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. This resolution urges the government of Sri Lanka to hold free and fair local elections as soon as possible and to strengthen good governance, rule of law, corruption, justice, accountability, and human rights measures,” said Ranking Member Risch.
“The United States will continue to support the people of Sri Lanka in their pursuit of peace, prosperity, and democracy.”
“The people of Sri Lanka have experienced decades of war, economic crisis, and political suppression that have led to this moment of inflection in the nation’s history.
As a result of our resolution, the U.S. House of Representatives will express its strong support for the Sri Lankan citizenry and their ongoing efforts to bring about a peaceful, democratic society that will ensure prosperity for the nation and accountability for the tragic actions of the past,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi.
