New Constitution can attract foreign investment - US

‘UNHRC Resolution 30/1 operative’

Keshap shaking hands with Sumanthiran-July 5, 2018, 10:37 pm 

Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap has told Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan that the new Constitution could help Sri Lanka attract foreign investment. A statement issued by Opposition Leader’s Office after Keshap met Sampanthan and Jaffna District TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran, quoted the US Ambassador as having said Sri Lanka would be able to attract more investors and more economic benefits if it adopted a new Constitution

The meeting took place at the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Colombo.

The TNA statement: "Expressing his views on the current state of affairs, Sampanthan pointed out that the Government is yet to accomplish most of its commitments to the International community. The expectations of the international community in the best interest of the people of Sri Lanka has not been fulfilled by the Government of Sri Lanka said Mr Sampanthan.

"Highlighting the commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government in the cosponsored resolution adopted at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2015, Mr Sampanthan said "the Office of the Missing Persons was established after a long delay, the Reparations bill is not yet passed, there had been no steps taken to address the Accountability issues, the commission on Truth Justice Reconciliation and non-Recurrence has not been constituted, the Constitutional process took a positive start but there seems to be delay in taking it forward".

Given the fact that there had been plenty of work done around the framing of a new Constitution for over 25 years, I don’t see any justifiable reasons for delay in this. Our primary interest is in the best interest of the country, and everyone in this country will benefit from a new Constitution said Mr Sampanthan. Mustering a two-third Majority in Parliament need not be that difficult to adopt a new Constitution said Mr Sampanthan.

Vast majority of the Tamil People who live all over the country including the North and the East want a solution within a united undivided Sri Lanka, there are sections of people not substantial but vocal who adopt a hardline view, but the only way to silence them and keep them away from negatively influencing the community is to deliver on the promises said Mr. Sampanthan. We have been absolutely reasonable in our demands said Mr Sampanthan, if the Government does not deliver the Tamil people are not going to be second-class citizens in this country.

The Ambassador pointed out that as far as the United States is concerned that the UNHRC Resolution remains operative and it is fundamental for several bilateral relationships. Further, he said the objectives of the country should remain positive in order to achieve peace and reconciliation. The positive image that the Government of Sri Lanka has in the international stage should not be taken for granted. He also highlighted that Sri Lanka will be able to attract more investors and will have more economic benefits if it adopts a new Constitution. Further, he said the United States of America will remain fully engaged with the progress made by the Sri Lankan government in the future. He also thanked Mr Sampanthan for his support during his tenure as the Ambassador.

Sampanthan appreciated the role played by the Ambassador and his team and the US state department in the past with regard to Sri Lanka and appealed that the same level of engagement should continue with all parties in the future.

Along with Mr Sampanthan TNA Spokesman and the Jaffna District parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran was also present at the meeting while the Ambassador was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Hilton and Joanna Pritchett, the Political Officer.