Washington, DC: The Sri Lankan government has a historic opportunity to bring lasting peace by addressing the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people, the US Ambassador-designate to Colombo said on Tuesday.
In a testimony to Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the confirmation hearings, the Ambassador-designate, Patricia Butenis said Sri Lanka should not miss the chance to set the course for lasting peace.
"The Sri Lankan government must begin addressing legitimate Tamil grievances, including articulating a political vision inclusive of the aspirations of all Sri Lankans -- all religions and ethnic groups, " Ms. Butenis, a career diplomat, told the Committee.
Ms. Butenis further told the Committee the Sri Lankan government must seriously address previous human rights abuses, including establishing accountability and rule of law by bringing to justice those responsible for extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and the numerous attacks against press freedom that have occurred in the last several years.
The nominee said however, the immediate challenge for Sri Lanka is caring for the large number of displaced persons currently in camps in the north.
According to Sri Lankan government there are over 260,000 IDPs are sheltered in the welfare camps.
Ms. Butenis said the U.S. government will continue to press the Sri Lankan government to provide unfettered access to those IDPs.
"The expeditious and voluntary return of displaced families to their land in safety and dignity will be an important step in sustaining the peace dividend. However, political reconciliation is required to sustain the peace over the long term," she continued.
If confirmed, Ms. Butenis, who was deputy chief of mission in Baghdad and most recently served as the ambassador to Bangladesh, will also be accredited to the Republic of Maldives.
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