John Kerry calls on President Sirisena

The US Secretary of State John Kerrycalled on President Maithripala Sirisena at United Nations Headquarters yesterday. The President and the Secretary of Statediscussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. Issuing a Press Statement regarding the Resolution on Sri Lanka at the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Mr. John Kerry said that Sri Lankan government’s decision to join as a co-sponsor paves the way for all of us to work together to deliver the commitments reflected in the resolution. This resolution demonstrates our support for Sri Lanka as it takes courageous steps to strengthen its democracy and restore civil liberties for all Sri Lankans, while also addressing the painful experiences of the past to ensure they never recur, he further said. This resolution marks an important step toward a credible transitional justice process, owned by Sri Lankans and with the support and involvement of the international community. The resolution will help families of the missing find answers about their loved ones. And it lays out a path to provide truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence that the Sri Lankan people deserve while safeguarding the reputation of those, including within the military, who conducted themselves with honor and professionalism, he added.