US Congressman calls for new era in bilateral ties :

Sri Lanka's peace-building efforts commended

US Congressman Joe Wilson praised the progress made in Sri Lanka's peace-building process, since the defeat of terrorism in the island.

Wilson was speaking at the Sinhala-Hindu New Year celebrations in Washington on Thursday.

The congressman, in his address, called for a new era of relations between Sri Lanka and the United States at the New Year celebrations.

Congressman Wilson further said, "Having ended a decades-long conflict in which the Government finally defeated terrorist forces within its borders, Sri Lanka recently celebrated its second New Year at complete peace.

"Therefore, this New Year will help bring a renewal in spirit and new expectations to the people of Sri lanka about future progress.

"I would like to wish a Happy New Year to the 250,000 Sri Lankan-Americans, along with the 21 million citizens of Sri Lanka, a dynamic nation in South Asia.

"Sri Lanka prepared to begin its third year of peace following its decades-long and ultimately successful fight against terrorism.

"It ended with the defeat of the militant terrorist group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in May 2009".

"There have been no terrorist incidents since then".

Wilson also called for a new-era of relations between Sri Lanka and the United States.

"During this time of national reconciliation, I look forward to a new era of Sri Lankan-American relations built on economic, strategic, and political cooperation between our two democratic societies," he said.