Kerry tells Sri Lanka president US wants stronger ties
Tuesday, 13 January 2015 01:48
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(AFP) GANDHINAGAR, India: Top US diplomat John Kerry has told Sri Lanka’s new president that Washington wants to strengthen its ties with the island, a US State Department official said 12 January.
Maithripala Sirisena has pledged to mend Sri Lanka’s relations with the West after his election victory over veteran leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who alienated many foreign leaders by refusing to allow an international probe into alleged wartime abuses.
“The Secretary spoke to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena last night to congratulate him on the successful campaign and express the US desire to work together for our shared goals,” said a senior State Department official, travelling with Kerry in India. “The two sides resolved to work together to strengthen the bilateral relationship in the coming days.”
Kerry had earlier congratulated Rajapaksa on his early concession of election defeat, although a Sirisena aide has since said the former president tried to hold onto power by staging a coup.
Relations between Washington and Colombo soured under Rajapaksa after the United States secured a UN-led investigation into the final stages of Sri Lanka’s separatist war that came to an end in May 2009.
US envoy Michele Sison had strongly criticised Sri Lanka’s failure to address allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed by troops in the final months of the ethnic war.
Kerry is in India ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama, who will be guest of honour at the country’s 26 January Republic Day celebrations.
