Economic development & reconciliation go hand -in-hand; Senior US officials

The United States (US) will continue to partner with the Srilankan government to foster economic development and encourage foreign investment, to work to advance opportunities for all Sri Lankans, a visiting senior official of the State Department said.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, U.S. Department of State Nisha Biswal who is on a two day official visit said Sri Lanka itself has been on a remarkable trajectory of addressing not only the internal issues that have challenged it, but also engaging with the broader international community in a spirit of partnership and dialogue.

"The United States and Sri Lanka share common goals as fellow democracies, which are both working to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.  We are partners, and today our relations are at an all-time high." she said.

Secretary Biswal further said that the US will continue to support the Sri Lankan government as it takes meaningful and concrete steps in response to concerns of its people related to democratic governance and advancing respect for human rights, for reconciliation, for justice and accountability.  

"We can envision a future which brings benefits to both countries, and to peace and prosperity and security across the Indian Ocean as Sri Lanka assumes a greater role as a key partner in this region.  As Sri Lanka assumes its great potential as a hub and a gateway to connect to a rising economic societies of South and Southeast Asia," she said.

Meanwhile Tom Malinowski, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor noted that in the last few months, and in particular the last several weeks, Sri Lanka took very concrete steps forward in its reform, democratization, and reconciliation agenda: the bill to establish an Office of Missing Persons, ratifying the convention on disappearances, additional land releases by the military, the President's very important directive on arrests under the PTA, progress in work on the constitution. 

"I want to stress that in our minds these two objectives -- economic development and reconciliation -- go hand-in-hand. Without a peace dividend, it will be harder to pursue reconciliation," he said while seconding his colleague Assistant Secretary Biswal's comments on economic development and on the opportunity and responsibility we have as a partner of Sri Lanka to help the people of this country achieve the peace dividend that they so deserve.