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Ambassador Michele Sison speaking in Colombo on Friday |
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka has called on the government to take “meaningful and concrete steps” to address concerns on governance, reconciliation, justice, and accountability.
Speaking at an event marking the 238th independence day of the United States, Ambassador Michele Sison praised the “longstanding and warm ties” between the two countries.
The reception, hosted by the US Embassy in Colombo, was attended by Ananthy Sasitharan, councillor in the Northern Provincial Council and R Sampanthan, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance.
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NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan and Ambassador Sison (Picture:@ananthysasi) |
The Sri Lankan government was represented by controversial paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda, who is a minister in President Rajapaksa’s cabinet, and thought to be involved in killings and prostitution rackets.
“The U.S. shares a positive vision for a unified, prosperous Sri Lanka,” Sison said.
“We thus continue to encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to take meaningful, concrete steps to address outstanding concerns related to democratic governance, reconciliation, justice, and accountability. The United States stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in facilitating progress on these issues,” she said.
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Ambassador Sison and TNA leader R Sampanthan |
Sison further highlighted the work done by the US through USAID in providing over $2bn in assistance to people in Sri Lanka, pointing out how USAID’s livelihoods projects have focussed particularly on vulnerable populations, especially in households headed by women.
She said that the US is teaching English to secondary school pupils all over the island, including Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Batticaloa, and that US scholars were teaching at the University of Jaffna, Peradeniya and Kelaniya.
The ambassador said that USAID also supports the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and Legal Aid Commission, in order to help ensure that people in Sri Lanka have greater access to justice.
The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa recently accused USAID of attempting to turn people against the government through its projects, putting restrictions on meetings between army officials and visitors to the Northeast.