US eases restrictions on Sri Lanka defense sales

Washington, DC: The United States has eased restrictions on defense sales to Sri Lanka to allow exports of equipment for aerial and maritime surveillance, Associated Press report said.

The U.S. State Department has enacted the changes Thursday to ease the export restrictions that have been effective from the start of the civil conflict in the 1980s.

The State Department move comes in the wake of a US-tabled resolution on Sri Lanka urging the country to investigate allegations of war crimes during its civil conflict that ended in 2009 getting approved by 24 members in the 47-member UN Human Rights Council.

However, the State department has said the two developments were unrelated. It may, however, help ease the strained bilateral relationship.

According to the AP news, the new exceptions allow US to export, on a case-by-case basis, equipment such as unarmed patrol boats, light aircraft, cameras, and related components.