* U.S. promises to stand by Sri Lanka and support the government's forward-looking agenda

Tue, Aug 25, 2015, 08:12 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


Aug 25, Colombo: The United States will standby Sri Lanka and support the new government to continue its forward looking agenda for the progress, a top U.S. official said today.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo Tuesday, after a meeting with Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said the U.S. has seen steady progress towards the forward looking agenda of this government.
Since his visits earlier this year and Secretary of State John Kerry's visit in May to Sri Lanka, the progress witnessed by the U.S. has been heartening to all the people around the world, Malinowski said, adding that the most recent example is the recent election, another promise made that was kept.

The U.S. official said the message sent by the Sri Lankans twice this year that they support change is the most important.

"What is most important to us is the message that the people of Sri Lanka have sent. Twice now this year the people of Sri Lanka - North, South, East, and West - have told us that they support change."

"Twice now they have voted -- North, South, East, and West -- for the rule of law. Against impunity, for reconciliation, for building this country, developing this country for everyone, and against the politics of ethnic and religious division. Against extremism on both sides," Malinowski said.

He said the people of Sri Lanka have set an important challenge for their government and for the international community.

"They have told us that the promise of this transition now needs to be fulfilled, and what we hear from the government is a recognition that the work, the hard work, must continue to meet their expectations," the Assistant Secretary noted.

He said the U.S. recognizes that some of the choices people had are going to be difficult and the process will take time. "Nobody expects miracles," he added.

However, the official noted that they see an extraordinary opportunity for the government so long as forward momentum is sustained and the US has an extraordinary responsibility to support the process so long as the government of Sri Lanka keeps making courageous decisions.

"The United States will stand by its side and provide the support that is needed to keep this process going forward until Sri Lanka succeeds in every respect in terms of security, economic development, democracy, and playing its rightful role as a respected leader on the world stage," Assistant Secretary said.

Assistant Secretary Malinowski was accompanied by the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal, U.S. Ambassador to Colombo Atul Keshap, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Resettlement Minister D, Swaminathan, and Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe.

Audio of the press conference