Inclusive reconciliation is among one of the top priorities for high-level bilateral dialogue between Sri Lanka and the US.!! Political solution..!!!

Wants humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka addressed

By Dianne Silva

A top US official said yesterday that Sri Lanka would retain the continuing support of the US government based on the approach taken to the humanitarian situation prevailing in the country.

“The continuing support of the US government will be reliant on the means in which the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka is addressed,” Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration from the US State Department Eric P. Schwarts said.

Secretary Schwartz admitted that his government in the past had substantial concerns over the Humanitarian issues in Sri Lanka,” he said.

He said that a political solution of inclusive reconciliation was high on the agenda. “Inclusive reconciliation is among one of the top priorities for high-level bilateral dialogue between Sri Lanka and the US. This process of inclusive reconciliation is important for all of Sri Lanka’s friends”, he said.

The purpose of Secretary Schwartz’s visit was to monitor the humanitarian effort in the country. “I was here to observe the state of the humanitarian effort, as well as to examine ways to further support effective relief and equitable and sustainable recovery,” he said.

Speaking at the Press Conference Director of US AID Sri Lanka Rebecca Cohn announced a donation of an $8 million and the provision of nearly 30 million food aid to the World Food Programme, this year from USAID.

“The funding we have announced this evening will support international organizations, such as UNHCR, as well as NGOs who are longstanding partners in Sri Lanka,” she said.

The aid would be used to improve the living conditions, restore the livelihoods and facilitate the early return of the displaced persons.

“In order to restore livelihoods, the US Government will provide necessities such as nets and small boats for fishermen, and tools and seeds for farmers. We will also give grants to help people start small businesses,” Cohn said.

While appreciating the effort by the government and other organisations to decongest the camps and provide better sanitation Mr. Schwartz said a range of issues concerned the US government.

“The United States remains deeply concerned about a range of issues where further progress is essential. In particular, the vast majority of displaced persons remain confined to camps, and my visit to Manik Farm and my conversations with displaced persons underscored for me the hardships they are enduring,” he said.

Mr. Schwartz addressed the issue of limited access to the camps for both International and local Organisations. “There remain burdensome limitations on access to those camps for those international humanitarian organizations and others who are in a position to ameliorate the conditions faced by these victims of conflict,” he said.

He further emphasized the need for persons within the camps to be given necessary information. “There is a dearth of information within these camps. There need to be better provision of information,” he said.

While in the country Secretary Schwartz met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda and other senior officials.

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