LLRC laid the ground work -Blake
Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake has said that Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission had laid the groundwork for continued reconciliation following Sri Lanka’s 30-year-long conflict with the terrorist group LTTE.
“The LLRC offers a very promising way forward to help Sri Lanka become again the Island of peace and prosperity,” Blake said adding that “the U.S. will support reaching those goals.”
He made this remark addressing the 64th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka celebration that was held at the University of the District of Columbia.
A number of other diplomatic dignitaries took part in the celebration, which highlighted the economic and social progress that Sri Lanka has achieved since its conflict against terrorism ended in May 2009, the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington DC said.“the President, Parliament and the Government of Sri Lanka have begun a range of programmes to help heal the wounds of the conflict, return those who fought in it to civil society, and reconcile the differences the conflict has left,” Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya said.
“There is strong evidence that this plan is working. Life is the North is improving quickly. Sri Lanka’s econ- omy is strong, and post-conflict development policies continue. Sri Lanka’s democracy remains free and fair. We now have lasting peace and no deaths due to terrorism. Therefore, we are confident that our nation will remain prosperous and friendly for years to come.”
“Sri Lankans know that the best solutions will be homegrown,” the ambassador said. “We know our country, we know our people and we know the expectations of our people. We know what works, and, because we are a democracy, we know that the solutions we seek will be adopted by a representative government. “That is, after all, how the great democracies of the world have settled their internal issues, including the United States. As we look to the United States as an example of self-determination, I am happy to report that our relationship with the U.S. remains strong and is growing stronger.”