Sri Lanka envoy briefs US legislators
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Jaliya Wickramasuriya
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Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States continued a series of
briefings on Capitol Hill last week as government forces cornered
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam militants in northern Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya met with Democratic Representatives
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Heath Shuler of North Carolina and
Republican Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey.
The meetings included a discussion on developments in the Sri Lankan
conflict. (Van Hollen’s father once served as U.S. ambassador to Sri
Lanka).
During the meetings, Ambassador Wickramasuriya explained that the
fighting has reached a protracted stage because government security
forces do not want to endanger civilians held captive as human shields
by the LTTE.
Instead, Ambassador told them government forces have declared a
safety zone for civilians and have worked with the United Nations and
International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate trapped civilians
and provide needed food and medicine. Ambassador Wickramasuriya said
that all members of Congress who he has met with so far are receptive to
the government’s campaign against the LTTE, which the United States
government considers a terrorist group. Ambassador said those in
Congress understand how costly the war has been for Sri Lankans.
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