By P.K.Balachandran

COLOMBO: In a perceptible shift of emphasis from human rights and war crimes accountability to economic development, the United States on Tuesday asked Sri Lankans to eschew divisive politics and work for the economic development of all on the grounds that democracy and post-war reconciliation can be brought about only through equitable economic development.

This was stated clearly by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal, and the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights, Tom Malinowski, at a media briefing after talks with the Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera here on Tuesday.

Biswal said that US-Lanka relations are on a “tremendous trajectory of partnership” for economic development and livelihood creation in the island nation. Among the areas she listed for cooperation are agriculture, health and education.

The US, Biswal said, looks to promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Lanka and, being Lanka’s “key partner” in the South Asian region, the US would help the island nation realize its goal of becoming a “regional hub and a gateway to South and South East Asia.”

On Lanka’s performance in various fields in the last year and a half since President Maithripala Sirisena was voted to power, Biswal said that Lanka has been on a “remarkable trajectory.” And given a shared interest in promoting human rights and democracy, US-Lanka relations are at an “all time high”. However, much work remains to be done, she cautioned.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights, Tom Malinowski, praised Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera for his role in projecting a positive image of Lanka in the international community and said that Lanka had taken “very concrete steps towards democracy and reconciliation” in the last year and a half.

He would “strongly commend” Lanka’s cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council .

Malinowski said that ethnic reconciliation can be brought about only by economic development as the people of Lanka, emerging from war, are looking for a peace dividend.

“People should come together and not go apart. The politics of divisiveness should give way to the politics of seeking cooperation and common ground,” the ranking US official said.

People should stop blaming each other for their problems and look at their responsibility for the issues confronting them. They should shed divisiveness and work for the welfare of all he urged.

Courtesy:New Indian Express