Ambassador Samarasinghe assures US Congressmen peaceful protests will not be stifled in SL

Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US Mahinda Samarasinghe has assured a group of US Congressmen that democratic and peaceful protests and protestors will be respected and will not be stifled.

Samarasinghe was responding to the letter by Congress Member Dina Titus dated 18 August, addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Ambassador Samantha Power, and co-signed by nine other Congressional colleagues.

Following is the full text of Ambassador Samarasinghe’s letter to Dina Titus. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and your esteemed colleagues for your abiding interest in Sri Lanka and the welfare of the Sri Lankan people. Sri Lanka is indeed facing a number of challenges which we believe are surmountable and which, with the understanding, support and goodwill of our friends in the international community, we are confident that we can overcome.

In particular we are grateful for the several initiatives the United States is taking to guarantee food security through agencies such as USAID, the donation of COVID-19 vaccinations, the efforts of US-based charitable foundations in supplying essential medicines, other material aid and also intangible assistance like the support for our forthcoming arrangements with the International Monetary Fund aimed at debt sustainability and accelerated growth.

Permit me to share some information relating to recent developments in diverse fields that address some issues and concerns adverted to in your communication. Firstly, Sri Lanka›s Parliament will debate an interim budget on 30 August through 2 September that will enable the process of economic recovery while maintaining essential supplies and services that support a return to normal civic life.

Secondly, while economic stabilisation is a priority, our efforts to uphold democratic values, the rule of law, promote and protect human rights and foster reconciliation continue undiminished. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution has been presented to Parliament. This reform is expected to transfer significant powers from the Presidency to a parliamentary body - the Constitutional Council - which is a body representative of the legislature and civil society. 

The Council will have a pivotal role in appointments to key national institutions including the Judiciary, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption, National Audit Commission and other national bodies. The Council will also play a role in appointments to key national offices including that of the Attorney-General and the Governor of the Central Bank.

Third, we are engaged in the multi-faceted process of post-conflict reconciliation and are continuing with initiatives to build a harmonious social order that would strengthen national unity and eliminate divisions based on race, ethnicity, religion and language. 

We have been engaged with the Department of State in an ongoing discussion on several measures to support reconciliation and social cohesion. In a related development, President Ranil Wickremesinghe will shortly announce a new initiative to engage with the Sri Lankan diaspora around the world who, we believe, will prove an invaluable resource in fostering social amity and also support economic growth and sustainable development.

Lastly, we wish to assert that democratic and peaceful protests and protestors will be respected and will not be stifled. Their voice will be heard through new measures to consult the people’s views and promote a culture of participatory governance. Some of these were adverted to in the Policy Statement made by the President in his address to Parliament on 3 August when he inaugurated a new session of the legislature. I had the privilege of sharing that statement with several of our interlocutors including Senators and Congresspersons.

That said, however, the Sri Lankan State does not condone acts of violence, destruction of public and private property by acts of arson or vandalism, obstruction of normal civilian life and Governmental function nor other lawless acts. These, you will agree, do not fall under the broad rubric of peaceful protests nor of democratic dissent. 

You will also be pleased to note that the special regime of emergency law proclaimed under the Public Security Ordinance in effect since 17 July has been allowed to lapse due to the gradual return to normality. It may also be recalled that significant changes were made to the Prevention of Terrorism Act in order to make it more consonant with international best practice and anti-terror laws.

We look forward to welcoming Ambassador Samantha Power to Sri Lanka when she makes a short visit to Sri Lanka next month. We hope to work closely with USAID in delivering relief to the Sri Lankan people in numerous spheres of activity. 

In sum, the United States is a country that espouses commonly held values relating to democracy and freedom, values that Sri Lanka shares. We hope to build on the strong foundations of our longstanding mutual friendship and thank you once again for your deep and genuine interest in our country’s fortunes.