US Secretary of State John Kerry called for Sri Lanka to open up “greater accountability” and to preserve human rights, in remarks before his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Mangala Samaraweera in Washington on Thursday.
Addressing reporters before the meeting, Mr Kerry said the change of government in Sri Lanka was a “vote to move Sri Lanka in a new direction, to open up greater accountability and possibility for the preservation of human rights, for democracy, for fighting corruption and putting together a government that will speak for and to the people.”
Mr Kerry further added,
“We’re going to talk today about President Sirisena’s thoughts about how to move Sri Lanka away from 30 years of war with the Tamils to a country that is inclusive and prosperous and peaceful”.
Noting that relations with the United States have been “strained given the last few years”, Mr Samaraweera said he would “ensure that we put back our relations to a irreversible state of excellence in the coming months”.
“I look forward to working very closely with Secretary of State Kerry and, of course, with the United States of America,” concluded the Minister.