Ahead of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, and Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, met with Tamil and Muslim political leaders to discuss reconciliation and a political solution to Sri Lanka's history of ethnic conflict.
On Twitter the Ambassador tweeted:
When those with different perspectives work together toward solutions, democracy is strengthened. @UnderSecStateP & I met with ethnic minority opposition party leaders to discuss their hopes for reconciliation & a political solution to SL’s history of ethnic conflict. pic.twitter.com/hwoEnIidFd
— Ambassador Julie Chung (@USAmbSL) February 1, 2023
Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, stated on Twitter:
Met with leaders from Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Muslim parties to discuss the United States’ support for Sri Lanka’s many diverse communities. Democracy can only work when all citizens are included and their rights respected. pic.twitter.com/b6rpsFYWv3
— Under Secretary Victoria Nuland (@UnderSecStateP) February 1, 2023
The Ambassador met with Tamil National Alliance MP, M A Sumanthiran, Tamil National People's Front leader GG. Ponnambalam, leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, Mano Ganesan, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Rauff Hakeem, leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, Rishad Bathuideen and leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam Siddarthan.
The meeting follows a letter by the TNPF leader urging the US to push for a federal solution and to refer Sri Lanka to the ICC.
Read more here: TNPF urges USA support for federal solution and establishment of international criminal tribunal