US one sided says Lanka

26 May 2010 03:17 am - 41 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka has urged the United States not to be one sided by focusing only on human rights issues when there are business and other opportunities in post-war Sri Lanka.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris noted that a year after the end of the civil war, "the circumstances are propitious for a certain strengthening and deepening of the relationship between Sri Lanka and the United States," Sri Lanka's chief diplomat said.

"We are not in anyway resentful of the focus on human rights. That is understandable. We are not complaining about it," Peiris told a gathering hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank yesterday, according to AFP.

"But we are making the point that the relationship should not be one dimensional. There are many other things that Sri Lanka and the United States can do together," he said.

Representatives from the International Crisis Group and Amnesty International aired some of the alleged abuses in a question-and-answer session with Peiris following his speech about post-election and post-war developments, AFP reported.

Business opportunities abound, according to Peiris, who was minister for international trade in the previous government.

"In particular, as we open up the country, as we rebuild the infrastructure, I think there is a great deal of scope for American companies to come in and participate fully in that exercise," he said.

Peiris talked of a new "mood of optimism" in Sri Lanka, adding the "whole country was coming alive" as foreign tourists begin arriving in large numbers and foreign investors eyed hotel construction.

Peiris said he met earlier Tuesday with US senators and congressmen and planned to hold more meetings with them over the next two days.

He is also to meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday after she returns from east Asia.

Clinton's spokesman Philip Crowley last month urged Sri Lanka's new government to use its mandate to pursue a "healing process" as the Indian Ocean island recovers from decades of war.

Crowley said the government appeared to enjoy a "significant mandate" from the election.

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Comments - 41

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:08 AM

Mr Perera, this not a political party issue, this is a country issue where our country is facing a head.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:39 AM

We can change if we want to. but we must believe in our selves first. Mr G.L. Peiris, You can help change our country. You have the power to do so. the Education, Knowledge & Experiences use all you got,. There wont be another chance to do so. These times wont come easily. So make the best of it. So you will be remembered as a great politician who helped develop the tiny great nation Sri lanka. Buddha,s Blessing to u n everyone who help poor innocent people of sri Lanka.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:43 AM

Anyone surprised? Of course USA is one sided right throughout as and when it suites USA. Uncle Sam is The example for Double Standard.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:50 AM

The mandate was for a 99% Rajapaksa regime - they hold most of the important state institutions under them, they have more than 95% of the budget in their hands - Sri Lanka is surely the miracle of Asia even now.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:53 AM

The only way to attract foreign investment is that there must be accountability and transparency by the government. It does not augur well for the government ministers to expose the frauds and wrongdoings of their predecessors. The only way to build confidence in the international community now that they already have doubts about the human rights situation in the country is to have accountability and transparency.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 06:06 AM

Professor Peiris has said it well. May be Uncle Sam will get the message.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 06:09 AM

How come US's HR record in iraq, afganistan, pakistan & guatanomay bay different ???

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 06:14 AM

Do you mean to say 9000 missing tamils whose families are ardently awaiting any information on them is a trivial issue....

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 06:19 AM

It is pathetic to see how Human Right Watch, AI and International Crisis Group is "dying" to bring war crime charges against a small under developed country which erradicated the most brutal terror outift from the world because of remenant Tami Tigers and hindering and trying to stop the development process of that country.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 06:22 AM

Mr. Peiris, you are wasting your valuable time there. Just return to Sri Lanka and devote your time for more productive issues.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 06:29 AM

Come on Prof. Why bother about US. We have better friends like Iran and Mayanmar.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:38 AM

For us to grow n prosper as a tiny nation in a big world we do need the foreign countries to invest in our local economy. Also creating a bigger market for our local suppliers too. But where would it take us to? Another deep hole like the one we just got rid of which we were fighting for last three decades?
I believe we must rely on our own resources to build up our country rather than letting these double standard policy holders like USA, UK n Many other war headed nations in the world. Self sufficiency is the way to go during n after this global financial crisis. We can create jobs n products with our own hands.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:14 AM

A serious study concludes that rule of law, media freedom, democracy, anticorruption and such good governance measures are essential for growth and foreign investments. SL has a long way to go in this respect. Start with national reconciliation, justice and rule of law. GL must put his house in order first.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:31 AM

malkanthi, from 52% voter turn out, how much the opposition got? you better do home work first

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:35 AM

Having right people at the right palace. A very simple example that reflects the earlier FM’s inability.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 08:01 AM

Ananda why are you going behind US and other EU countries begging. Ask them to go to CHINA, INDIA, IRAN, MYNAMAR who gave the support to defeat the Tamils by killing them .

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 08:02 AM

The Analyst, You have forgotten the location of sri lanka.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:25 AM

Mr. Minister it's great that you are accepting indirectly that, in fact, Human Right violation had taken place in this country.
You are great.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:31 AM

Its not tamils who were defeated, it is terrorism that was defeated. Your comment itself is sounding so racist, how can we build a peaceful nation with comments like that?

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:39 AM

Yeah, they are really good friends.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 08:12 PM

G.L. Peiris plays the violin in the background.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:16 AM

Dear Professor Please clarify me whether US is one sided or We are on the Wrong side.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:35 AM

Absolutely right. Even a deaf and blind can understand this!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:49 AM

If there has been any human rights violations, they should be dealt in an appropriate manner. Why Sri Lanka itself having double standards in issues such as General Sarath Fonseka's issue where they have forgotten one side of him where he lead the Army to defeat Terrorism , and kept him in custody without a single charge against him. I think Sri Lanka doesn't have the right to tell that they're one sided. Dear Mr. Peiris, we respect you, but its pity that you've come an fallen into the wrong set of selfish government .

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:51 AM

Hon Minister well said sir its in the mutual interest of both countries to woo the US Businessmen and would be blow to the pro Elamists in US and elsewhere

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:53 AM

Any how Mr.PPP "you are doing good" but your administrative are still racist

Rasendram

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:55 AM

When US talks of healing process and supports UN call for accountability, you are blaming US as one sided. But remember, when US led the banning of LTTE, arrested LTTE arms dealers who tried to buy Anti Air missiles, froze LTTE bank accounts, you did not say that. You used US positions globally to defeat LTTE. Now retrospect to the same int’l community on Human Rights.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:00 AM

Not only that these white mafia is one sided but the real noise is from the tiger diaspora dollars talking thru UN agencies & other bogus HR organisations. How come now they have woken up from their slumber when tigers had their day brutally maiming & killing women & children ? did they ever demand prabakaran's head ? No, at that time they were enjoying watching a poor struggling nation gasping for breath being destroyed by terrorism

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:01 AM

So Mr. Peris what you are effectilvely telling the US and the rest of the world is that just turn a blind eye on the war crimes and human right viloations in SL and you will offer business opportunities in SL.

You need to realise that, in a bankrupt SL there is little business opportunities for a big country like US (May be you can offer it to Iran), plus it's SL that needs help from international community to build SL and not vise versa.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:07 AM

Govt. cannot deal with USA, the way they deal with China or Iran.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:11 AM

"Significant mandate"? This year general election was the lowest voter turn out ever. An average voter turn out was 50 to 52 %. That means every other Sri Lankan has not cast his/her vote. May be Philip Crowley has not done a proper reseach!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:35 AM

Professor Pieris. we thought UPFA govt can manage without USA govt assistance and europeon aid. Your big mouth Minister Weerawansa and hela Urumaya leader REv madhananda said that they will sell all the gold buddha statues and rescue sri lanka from the financial mess. Tell the USA that it was Ranil and UNP who ruined the govt and you were also a partner to the destruction. Give up your professorship and go home.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:17 AM

Hats off to G.L. for patiently outlining Sri Lanka's cause to the US. There was a terrible war for well nigh 30 years. It was not a conventional war but a war against a most ruthless terrorist group ever which naturally called for unconventional methods and Sri Lanka won. US and the rest of the west should now not find fault with SL on trivial matters but help rebuild it unless they want to push this country into the axis of paraya states like Myanmar etc.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:24 AM

Diplomat relations will be based on many interests of the countries. Threfore we should not considerd one dimension on that. foreign policy of a country demostrats their internal intersts . But , changing global situation , we should understand what should be done ? in the dynamic economic and social world . Therefor foreign policy straregies should be adopted such ternds from the world. That is, one of the main secret behind the sucsessful foreign policy of a country.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:40 AM

"whole country was coming alive" In some parts people are made destitute, homeless, orphaned, maimed by its own governments. In some parts of the country people are made homeless, because of natures fury and bad town planning by the Government.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:44 AM

Human Rights is the main factor under the US 's constitution is based on. Can ever Sri Lanka have President from the Monority community as in US, where Obama being from the black & minority community elected as President of the USA.
GL, please don't find fault with the USA, EU, UK etc for faults of S/L a state never cares for the norms set out by the UN. You as External Minister just antagonizing all International community

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:55 AM

US has various sides different to country to country. Why can't they mind their own business?

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:57 AM

Human Rights violation is the one of the main issue,though the government so far failed to rectify. Every day we hear number of HR violations using political power.It has become the normal lifestyle of Sri lanka but others cannot act without focusing on. Try to be honest without begging from US.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:59 AM

Peiris, US is now a dwindling economy having walked into the trap of Saddam and in debt to China for many more generations to come. Go to China where the future business thrive.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:13 AM

What are you going to offer to USA to keep their mouths shut? Trincomalee Harbor?

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 05:24 AM

What business opportunity GL?. If the house is clean then the business men will jump to come there to invest. Make that happen first.

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US one sided says Lanka

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