US President Barack Obama asks about progress on issues like the Prevention of Terrorism Act and landgrabs 'every day', Ambassador Samantha Power said earlier today.

"People around the world are watching Sri Lanka. We are talking about the process that you all are engaged in here. We are completely behind your efforts," Ms Power said at a meeting with youth from across the island.

"And this is true especially in the United States: President Obama is asking every day, 'How is it going in Sri Lanka, how are they doing? What’s going on with that prevention of terrorism act? What’s going on with that land reclamation? What’s going on on reconciliation?' People are asking these questions. They want to know what’s going on. How are the young people doing? How’s the job situation? What’s happening in Sri Lanka? People want to know, and we want to be by your side as you undertake what I know feels some days like monumental challenges."

Ms Power said consultation on the accountability mechanism was "extremely important" and said everyone was eager for a process which is seen as legitimate and credible by not only the communities affected, but also by the international community.

"A lot of the communities that were the most affected by war and the most affected by terrorism have felt voiceless and have not felt as if their dignity was respected, whether throughout the war or in the years since, as they go around and with a photo of a missing family member and can’t get anybody to return their phone calls, and – so this consultative process, to make it as broad and as deep, but also there is a desire to move forward. And so one wants to get these institutions in place relatively quickly. But that consultation seems very, very important,