US ‘very firm’ on need for HR, accountability in Sri Lanka

The United States stood "very firmly" on the need for respect for human rights and the need for a process of accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal has said.

Speaking during the Sri Lanka Policy Forum session hosted by The Program on Peace-building and Human Rights at Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights and the Association of War Affected Women, on Monday, Biswal said Sri Lanka is making progress but a lot more still needs to be done.

She cited the progress made in establishing the office of missing persons and that the current government  has welcomed and encouraged the visit of UN special Rapporteurs to help provide technical support, expertise and best practices that can help shape the government's views on reconciliation and accountability, Press Trust of India reported.

"While we are thankful that the days of the conflict our behind us, the effort to move forward on reconciliation is really truly only just beginning," she said.

She said the Sri Lankan government that came into power in January 2015 has taken "some very encouraging steps" with respect to the efforts to return land to its rightful owners and efforts to "give closure" to so many families whose loved ones are still unaccounted for and to "seek justice and accountability for those affected at the worst times of the conflict."

Biswal said the reconciliation process is at its beginning and the "hardest work" is still ahead but the country is not alone in this journey and the US stands ready to support Lanka.