The United States has “welcomed action taken by Sri Lanka to promote reconciliation and human rights” in a joint statement this morning, despite Colombo’s deteriorating record of jailing critics and ongoing rights abuses.

The statement, released as part of the Fourth Sri Lanka – U.S. Partnership Dialogue in Colombo today, said that the regime in Sri Lanka “outlined its progress in reconciliation, in promoting and protecting human rights, and in strengthening democracy”. “The United States acknowledged progress in these areas,” it added.

It comes as Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the U.S. Department of State Victoria Nuland landed in Colombo and met with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs G.L. Peiris. Nuland is the most senior US official to visit the island since former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in October 2020.

In the statement, the US went on to highlight “efforts to reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the release of long-term PTA detainees, the justice reform agenda, and engagement with civil society representatives”.

The welcoming of Sri Lanka’s apparent progress comes despite decades of Tamils calling for the PTA to be repealed and campaigns launched across the island calling for the draconian law to be scrapped. It is not known how many continue to be detained under the PTA, but lawmakers claim hundreds of Tamil political prisoners continue to languish in Sri Lankan prisons under the act.

In October 2021, a Tamil man from Amparai who was incarcerated as a teenager was released after being held for 12 years without charge. In December that same year, another 45-year-old Tamil man was released and acquitted of all charges after 15 years in detention. Recent years has seen the use of the PTA ramp up under the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Sivagnanam Sritharan told Sri Lanka’s parliament in October 2021 that, “39 [Tamils were] arrested in North-East in last three months” alone. 

“The United States encouraged Sri Lanka to continue making progress on its commitments to reconciliation and human rights,” the statement added.

Alongside comments on human rights, Sri Lanka also “welcomed the impending arrival of the third High Endurance U.S. Coast Guard Cutter transferred through the U.S. Excess Defense Articles program”.

During Pompeo’s visit in 2020, he confirmed that two coast guard cutters been handed to the Sri Lankan navy and stated he was “proud that Sri Lankan officers received training at US institutions like West Point, my alma matter”. 

The relationship between the two governments has continued, despite the lack of accountability and justice for rights abuses. The joint statement went on to add,

“Both delegations welcomed ongoing bilateral defense and security sector cooperation, including U.S. support for humanitarian demining and disaster relief, joint military engagements, human rights training for Sri Lankan officers, and exchange of visits, including by U.S. ships and military officials. The United States resolved to explore opportunities to further expand counter-terrorism cooperation with Sri Lanka.”

See the full text of the statement here.

Under Secretary Nuland, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and the US delegation will also meet with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa stands accused of a host of human rights abuses, war crimes and genocide.