Sri Lanka has a significant opportunity to transform – US

Friday, 17 December 2010 01:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United States reiterated that Sri Lanka has a significant opportunity to transform the country and urged the Sri Lankan government to take advantage of the opportunity.

The U.S. State Department spokesman Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley made this remark at the press briefing on Wednesday in response to question on war crimes allegations against Sri Lanka the U.S. continues to engage the Sri Lankan government.

“As we’ve said many times, it has a significant opportunity to transform the country, lift it above and beyond the recent conflict, and we certainly hope that the government will take advantage of that opportunity,” the spokesman expressed hope.

When asked to comment on the Amnesty International’s call to charge Sri Lankan President with alleged war crimes in the International Criminal Court following the WikiLeaks disclosure, the spokesman declined to comment but said the U.S. continues to engage the Sri Lankan government.

“I won’t comment on any cable that may have been released through WikiLeaks. We continue to engage the Sri Lankan Government,” Crowley said.

According to a cable disclosed by WikiLeaks, the United States Ambassador in Colombo, Patricia Butenis on 15 January this year has said the country’s senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa and his brothers and opposition candidate General Fonseka, responsible for the alleged war crimes.