US–SL talks : Govt. reaffirms commitment to domestic war crimes investigation

Biswal announces USD 1 mn in assistance for resettlement, education

 

By Zacki Jabbar-August 25, 2015, 9:30 pm

The government, while reiterating its commitment to probing alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka through an independent domestic mechanism, said yesterday that it had agreed to prioritise closer economic cooperation with the US.

The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to the media at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, after he and Justice Minister Wijyayadasa Rajapakshe had held talks with a visiting US state delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Tom Malinowski.

"In keeping with the specific pledge in President Maithripala Sirisena’s manifesto and with political stability being achieved through one of the most free and fair elections held in this country, I outlined measures being taken to address concerns regarding alleged human rights violations through independent domestic mechanisms" Samaraweera said.

He revealed that the Srisena–Wickremesinghe government wanted to enhance trade and business relations and encourage more US investors to take advantage of the economic opportunities in Sri Lanka. "The US is Sri Lanka’s biggest export market with 23 percent of our exports entering that country."

Biswal, said that the US would provide USD 1 mn in assistance for education and resettlement in Sampur.