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US State Dept warns uncertainty undermining Sri Lanka's reputation

The US State Department today urged Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena to "reconvene parliament immediately" warning that the uncertainty was undermining the country's international reputation. 

"We urge #SriLanka’s President to reconvene parliament immediately to resolve the political crisis. Further delay compounds uncertainty in Sri Lanka, and undermines its international reputation and the aspirations of its people for good governance, stability and prosperity," the US State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert tweeted

Sri Lanka's parliament was prorogued last month by Sirisena, after he sacked the prime minister and appointed the former president, who oversaw the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils, Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new premier. 

The State Department had previously responded to Sirisena's appointment stating that parliament "must decide on prime minister". 

Sirisena remains defiant however, vowing to drive through his change of government and telling supporters he would not be discouraged by resistance in Parliament, civil society and the international community to his actions. 

Samantha Power, a senior US policy figure and former US ambassador to the UN, last week urged the US to consider suspending aid and imposing targeted sanctions on Sri Lanka. 

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