Sirisena’s actions could impact development assistance, US lawmakers warn

Washington, DC: As Sri Lanka’s political crisis escalated with the dissolution of parliament, US lawmakers voicing their concerns urged the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to reverse course and let Parliament perform its constitutional duties.

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Dina Titus, Co-Chair of the Sri Lanka Caucus; and Rep. David Price, Ranking Member of the House Democracy Partnership urged Sri Lanka to uphold its commitment to democratic governance and reopen the country’s Parliament.

In a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena, the members expressed deep concern that the suspension of Sri Lanka’s Parliament circumvents the country’s constitution and democratic process.

“Unfortunately, we fear that recent actions, if not corrected, will threaten your country’s democratic development and derail the progress made in recent years. It has caused a political crisis...and could have an impact on the MCC program, US foreign assistance, and other US engagement and programs,” the members wrote.

Full text of the letter can be found below and here:

Dear President Sirisena,

We are gravely concerned about the decision to suspend your country’s Parliament and replace the Prime Minister through an extra-constitutional mechanism. We urge you to call for the immediate reopening of the Parliament and to diffuse this crisis through a democratic process.

Your election in 2015 brought new hope for democratic reform, accountability, and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Actions from your Government to initiate a reconciliation process, to amend your Constitution, and to support the rule of law signalled a new commitment to democratic governance in Sri Lanka.

In response to these efforts, the United States has undertaken several initiatives to invest in the relationship, including welcoming Sri Lanka’s Parliament into the House Democracy Partnership, considering Sri Lanka for a Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, and transferring a US Coast Guard high endurance cutter, formerly the USCGC Sherman, to the Sri Lankan Navy.

Unfortunately, we fear that recent actions, if not corrected, will threaten your country’s democratic development and derail the progress made in recent years. It has caused a political crisis which Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has warned could result in a “bloodbath,” and could have an impact on the MCC program, US foreign assistance, and other US engagement and programs.

The US-Sri Lanka partnership is built on shared goals of good governance and a commitment to democratic values. As such, we urge you to signal your commitment to these values and rule of law by allowing Parliament to perform its constitutional duties without interference.