US should not bully small countries: US House Rep

The United States should not bully a small country like Sri Lanka, considering the difficulties it has had to face during a 30-year conflict, a member of the US House of Representatives who is visiting Sri Lanka, said yesterday.

“Why is the United States taking the lead in bullying a small country like Sri Lanka, when Sri Lanka has gone through a terrible conflict? Should we be looking at other countries when our own situation is yet to be cleared, for example even with Vietnam?” Eni Fa’aua’a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr., a non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa, speaking to a group of journalists said.

He noted that Sri Lanka has made significant progress with regard to reconciliation and reconstruction and should not be antagonised by the international community at forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council.

He further stated that the decision to sponsor a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC was a violation of President Obama’s stance of foreign policy which was “focused on engagement rather than confrontation”.

He met with President Rajapaksa, the Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga. He has also met with Leader of the TNA R. Sambandan and visited Jaffna.

 “I spoke with Sambandan and I recognise that it is an internal issue of politics that needs to be resolved,” he said.