Leading US Senators unveil a resolution calling for int’l approach to address SL’s crisis

15 September 2022 01:13 am - 26 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Leading US senators, including the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez have introduced a Senate resolution calling for a comprehensive international approach to address Sri Lanka’s current political and economic crisis, including challenges related to poor governance and economic policy under the Rajapaksa family’s rule.

Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senators Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy and Cory Booker in introducing the Senate resolution
“I am proud to be joined by my colleagues in introducing our resolution that necessarily calls attention to the devastating political and economic turmoil plaguing the people of Sri Lanka,” Chairman Menendez said. “As the country grapples with its worst domestic crisis since the end of its civil war, the international community must continue to provide robust support and ensure that accountability for war crimes and respect for human rights in Sri Lanka remain top priorities. I applaud efforts by the Biden administration, our Quad partners, and the IMF in providing critical humanitarian and economic assistance, and affirm my commitment to continue to work with my colleagues to advance stability and prosperity in Sri Lanka and the broader region.”

“After decades of conflict, political mismanagement, and unaddressed inequalities, the Sri Lankan people have made it clear they aspire for something better,” Senator Durbin said. “Introduction of today’s resolution shows that the U.S. Senate stands with peaceful democratic efforts to address these long neglected challenges.”

“The Rajapaksa family enriched themselves at the expense of the Sri Lankan people, ruthlessly silencing their opponents, inciting ethnic tensions, and leaving the country an economic shambles,” Senator Leahy said. “After years of civil war and government mismanagement and abuse, Sri Lanka needs a government that is committed to ethnic tolerance, equitable economic development, human rights, and justice. That should also be the focus of U.S. policy.”

“The Sri Lankan people have sent a firm message that they want their government to address the dire economic and humanitarian crises that are afflicting their country,” Senator Booker said. “I stand with the Sri Lankan people and support their peaceful efforts to address their needs. Furthermore, the international community must continue to push for justice, transparency, and accountability for human rights violations committed during the civil war to help the people of Sri Lanka move forward.”

While commending the Biden administration and other Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) members’ support for Sri Lanka, the resolution calls on the UN Human Rights Council to extend its war crimes accountability resolution; urges Sri Lankan security forces to respect Sri Lankans’ rights to protest peacefully; and presses President Ranil Wickremesinghe to work with opposition parties and ethnic minority groups in efforts to address the crisis.

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Comments - 26

Punchi Thursday, 15 September 2022 02:17 AM

The beginning of the end. We only accept Christian money, aid grants etc type internal interference. The type of interference US senators are proposing is contrary to our Buddhism formost constitution. Can the recently Thero anointed General protect us from this unwelcome internal interference ?

Ram Thursday, 15 September 2022 02:33 AM

We live in hope for pressure to be made on our politicians by the foreign missions for politicians to take purposeful decisions that benefit the people in this calamity

Nathan, Retired Civil Servant , Mallakam, Jaffna Thursday, 15 September 2022 03:00 AM

While I agree with all being said by the American Senators , no one seems to want to know about the Indian involvement in Sri Lankan affairs since the 80s, including undermining the democratic Tamil Politicians by Financing and Training of the Tamil Terrorists like the LTTE and EPRLF in their Indian soil and later launching of the “Earthquake”Barbaric attack by many divisions of the Indian Army against the defenceless innocent Tamil civilian in the North and East of Sri Lanka. For the educated and cultured Hindu mainstream Sri Lankan Tamils, India is viewed as the main enemy responsible for the destructions and killings of the Tamils in their traditional homeland of North and East Sri Lanka.

Bertram Thursday, 15 September 2022 04:33 AM

Welcome move. Finally US will make people with domestic mechanisms open their eyes. All war criminals politicians included should be tried and prosecuted in the ICC, by the competent international justice system.,

Punchi Thursday, 15 September 2022 05:16 AM

Australian Briadcasting Corporation Foreign Correspondent program is doing program on Ranils rights violations tonight. We must send our rana viras to stop broadcast and arrest High Commissioner

Iwazaru Thursday, 15 September 2022 06:15 AM

Thanks Uncle Sam for coming to the assistance of Sri Lanka at the difficult time. We expect the US to push Sri Lanka to punish the looters and put them behind bars.

Saman Hulangamuwa Thursday, 15 September 2022 06:47 AM

I am happy that US Senators has issued this statement.

sam Thursday, 15 September 2022 08:37 AM

Some country will need to bail us

Jef Thursday, 15 September 2022 09:36 AM

All good but sri lanka got no legs to stand Bank Crupt corrupt practises mismanagement underworld politicians with no proper education qualification decency all departments sectors are highly Ineffectivly operates to benefit officials no proper system procedures guidelines technology accountability have led massive financial disaster in the country currant president and few handfuls honest educated smart politicians will have very tough times ahead 95% our not suitable for there portfolios and find ways to build wealth for them self will sri lanka ever recover only god knows

Cholmondeley Pinto Thursday, 15 September 2022 11:40 AM

That's fine but have your political system fixed first. May be srilanka can help USA to fix their election system to avoid frauds which Donald Trump claims to have taken place

Aquarius Thursday, 15 September 2022 12:00 PM

The international community has been patiently listening to us for decades about providing solutions within the constitution and local mechanism. All they have done is sweeping things under the carpet and do just the opposite and we have too many politicians who have selective "international conspiracy" phobia. If we think we can come out of the present situation with local solutions, our days are numbered.

Lankan for unity Thursday, 15 September 2022 12:10 PM

I wonder if this talk is just symbolic or if there might be material steps the US and their Quad allies can do about improving the freedoms especially for political expression and protest for our nation.

Corrupt ministers and MPs Thursday, 15 September 2022 12:42 PM

Even today Rajapakshas are ruling the though Ranil with money power. RANIL is only a puppet he is under the control of Rajapakshas.

ajith Thursday, 15 September 2022 12:49 PM

Dear Senator, All this damage to SL was done a US petrol shed attendant.

mohan Thursday, 15 September 2022 12:51 PM

Hey Nathan, Retired Civil Servant , Mallakam, Jaffna without Indian assistance you would be starving to death by now. Matters stated by you are not relevant to the present crisis. So what's your solution-want the Rajapaksha's back?

Mahila Friday, 16 September 2022 05:36 AM

What difference would this bloke Nathan make, whilst 6.9 million are earnestly awaiting to do exactly that!! Bring back the R Bros. Inc., at Presidential General Elections scheduled, 2024/25?! Entertain NO doubt?!! Indications are “all well written on the walls”, quell doubts, whatsoever?! All doubters, must be having hallucinations, of “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour 2019, missed out last time, in a country whose treasury is depleted of all resources by giving unnecessary and unwanted "TAX CUTS" TO ‘IMPOSTERS’ AND 'HANGERS ON'??!! LOOTERS’ ACOLYTES!!!??? If they haven't read those signals, abounding on “Stupidity or ill-founded mindset??!! Quo Vadis SL??!!

Rohan Perera Thursday, 15 September 2022 01:01 PM

Punchi and his constitution is the cause for the plight of Sri Lankan. people today.

Karalasingam Sivalingam Thursday, 15 September 2022 04:46 PM

Human rights, freedom to protest, RTI etc are paramount important for a country and its people,international intervention is an important turn for the conclusion of this issue.

EMILYJOACK Thursday, 15 September 2022 05:53 PM

Us petrol shed attendents have 6 houses with our looted money and his son got 3 houses in caliofonia with our money THANK YOU DEAR SENATOR ACTION NEED PLEASE

Daring youth Thursday, 15 September 2022 07:56 PM

I don't think there is any point dragging on about the civil war. There are those much grieved by it. However there will be no victory for the outsider to delve into it ever. They should instead address the needs of young and those who seek freedom of expression will bring about faster transformation. I feel the US is loses credibility with their continuing post-mortem for the civil war, and other previous problems. Instead the US should focus 90% plus just on what happened this year. The North and East people will be so much better off in coming years if the injustices against the youth of the Aragalaya are focused on. Once that battle is won for the Aragalaya youth, the those who suffered decades can start to feel confident the coming generation in the North and East will not go through what they did. And that at least the children have a much better future.

ram Thursday, 15 September 2022 10:43 PM

well said....the sri lankans have always looked at their island as paradise...it is ...but the good earth is dotted with many such paradises....the srilankans depending solely on tourism is the main cause of the present crisis....also can the srilankan look back and find out the cause of the civil war....dont blame other nations ..look within

Sam Sen Friday, 16 September 2022 02:10 AM

Looking at things carefully and logically, I would say that the majority of the Sinhalese are responsible for the current situation.....specifically the 6.9million and the top Buddhist clergies and all three security forces. These majority Sinhalese were racists to their core and wanted someone like GR and MR to carry out their ethnic cleansing operation which GR is capable of doing very well. All know, GR was conducting white van operations, enforced disappearances, destroying Tamil historical sites etc. Very successfully to the absolute satisfaction of the 6.9m racist Sinhalese and Mahasanga. Since these racists Sinhalese are still there with the same attitude, no foreign aid is going to be used Efficiently for the economic uplift meant of the people. Foreign aid groups should be mindful of that fact.state machinery is full of corrupt Sinhalese who will never allow the foreign aid to reach the needy. Service of foreign auditing agencies should be deployed.

Dasa P Friday, 16 September 2022 03:20 AM

Now all the conspiracy theorists will come out and blame US for being the only country with a backbone to challenge the corrupt regimes line the one we have. What they don't understand is Sri Lanka is really in deep shxx whether we like it or not.

Ima Friday, 16 September 2022 03:56 AM

Almost two decades Sri Lanka has been ruling by rajapaksha family,they used military authority they earned due to civil war,as a curtain to do all sort of malpractices ,though Chinese institutions who lend money,new very well high degree of misappropriation happening and pay back,would have to be done by another party, civilians they continued to lend money to rajapakshas,but now they demanding payback from civilians,refusing restructuring of debt,but money looted by ragapakshas now emerging from various places according toPandora papers,there is a rumour. that even LTTE ‘s gold also stolen by them

kudson Friday, 16 September 2022 08:56 AM

lets start with arresting the war criminals responsible for the 100,000 murders of tamil civilians and those who murdered journalists and then the white van kidnappers and murderers

ශිෂ්‍යයා Wednesday, 21 September 2022 02:46 PM

Our desire of wanting to be the one and the only race in SL let the rana viruwa do all the dirty works for us and we didn't care what they did to others. We were internally happy to hear about the sufferings of non-sinhalese, even though we pretended otherwise. Then we crowned the ones who lead them and protected them from intl. societies. Nothing comes free in this world. So let's pay the price without complaining.

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Leading US Senators unveil a resolution calling for int’l approach to address SL’s crisis

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