US Senator Hollen urges Sirisena to respect democracy and rule of law

 US Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) this week wrote to President Maithripala Sirisena raising deep concerns about his decision to remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the ensuing political crisis. 

Senator Van Hollen has deep connections to Sri Lanka, having lived there for a period of time when his father, Chris Van Hollen Sr., served as US Ambassador to the country. He is also the former co-chair of the Sri Lanka Caucus in the US House of Representatives.

“The actions taken during the last few weeks, however, put at risk the rule of law and democracy in Sri Lanka. The decision to oust the sitting Prime Minister, suspend the Parliament, attempt to hold snap elections, and reject the votes of Sri Lanka’s democratically-elected representatives could also threaten the progress made in strengthening our bilateral relationship,” wrote Senator Van Hollen. “I respectfully urge you to seek an end to this impasse in a manner consistent with the Sri Lankan constitution, the democratic process, and the rule of law.”

The full text of the letter is as follows:

Dear President Sirisena,

I write as a longtime friend of Sri Lanka, who has worked hard to strengthen the bonds between our two democracies. It is in that spirit that I want to express my deep concern with the decision to remove Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and the subsequent rejection of two no confidence motions in the Sri Lankan Parliament on your choice of replacement. I urge you to accept the results of the no confidence motions in Parliament, in accordance with the Sri Lankan Constitution and the rule of law.

The US partnership with Sri Lanka has grown since your election in 2015, in which you promised reconciliation and democratic reform. In the years since, we have bolstered our relationship, including through a proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation compact and increases in economic and security assistance. 

The actions taken during the last few weeks, however, put at risk the rule of law and democracy in Sri Lanka. The decision to oust the sitting Prime Minister, suspend the Parliament, attempt to hold snap elections, and reject the votes of Sri Lanka’s democratically-elected representatives could also threaten the progress made in strengthening our bilateral relationship. I respectfully urge you to seek an end to this impasse in a manner consistent with the Sri Lankan Constitution, the democratic process, and the rule of law.