{"id":41132,"date":"2015-05-04T17:02:29","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T21:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=41132"},"modified":"2015-05-05T00:38:11","modified_gmt":"2015-05-05T04:38:11","slug":"sri-lankan-visit-by-john-kerry-shows-president-sirisena-has-many-new-friends-in-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=41132","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lankan Visit by John Kerry shows President Sirisena has “many new friends” in Washington."},"content":{"rendered":"

by<\/p>\n

Taylor Dibbert<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently visited Sri Lanka. He was accompanied by Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.<\/p>\n

\"pic:<\/a>

pic: facebook.com\/maithripalas<\/p><\/div>\n

Kerry and company were welcomed with open arms by the Sirisena administration and this high-level visit is the latest (and most prominent) reminder that Sri Lanka\u2019s recent political shakeup is a genuine game changer for the Obama administration.<\/p>\n

It was a brief stay and one could argue that Kerry may have been too hard-pressed for time to travel to the Tamil-dominated north. However, the optics of this trip may disappoint many ethnic Tamils and Muslims. (He did find time to visit a Buddhist temple just outside of Colombo.)
\n
\nAmong other matters, many may be left wondering about the Obama administration\u2019s past proclamations regarding justice and \u2018accountability\u2019 for alleged wartime abuses during the end of the country\u2019s civil war. Kerry expressed hope that Sri Lanka\u2019s domestic accountability mechanism would adhere to international standards.<\/p>\n

In an optimistic speech at the Taj Samudra Hotel Kerry gave a wide-ranging talk that covered everything from devolution to regional economic integration to climate change to a brief reference to democratic backsliding in the Maldives. Kerry also noted the commencement of an annual \u201cpartnership dialogue\u201d between Washington and Colombo.<\/p>\n

Towards the beginning he said that \u201cthe problems of Sri Lanka are clearly going to be solved by Sri Lankans. That\u2019s the way it ought to be, but it\u2019s also the only way it\u2019s going to work. And you wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

He outlined the possibility of U.S.-Sri Lanka cooperation in four areas: reconciliation; justice and accountability; human rights; and the strengthening of democratic institutions.<\/p>\n

Throughout the speech Kerry consistently struck notes of hopefulness and a desire for collaboration. Washington is more than willing to offer assistance, but that\u2019s a decision for Colombo to make. Clearly, Kerry came to the island nation bearing reassurance that the acrimony that had plagued U.S. \u2013 Sri Lanka ties in recent years was a thing of the past.<\/p>\n

The Sirisena administration has given assurances that the creation of a domestic accountability mechanism is ongoing and has indicated that they would be willing to receive technical assistance from the United States. Let\u2019s wait and see how quickly any of that happens.<\/p>\n

Parliament\u2019s recent passage of the 19th amendment to the constitution (which trims presidential powers) has been meet with high praise in Washington and, with a Rajapaksa comeback looking increasingly unlikely, the U.S.-Sri Lanka \u201creset\u201d is obviously moving quickly.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, the Sirisena administration has made some early steps in the right direction and there are other instances where progress remains very limited; while acknowledging that there\u2019s plenty of work left to be done, Kerry emphasized that he\u2019s very encouraged. During his speech, he noted that \u201cSri Lanka\u2019s story carries the promise that people can hold their government accountable, use peaceful dissent, use the power of the ballot box and change the course of history. And we can already see here the power of that promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s political situation is still fragile and the lasting effects of Maithripala Sirisena\u2019s rise to the presidency remain unknown, although, for now, one thing looks clear: he has many new friends in Washington.<\/p>\n

(Taylor Dibbert<\/strong> is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.<\/strong> and the author of Fiesta of Sunset: The Peace Corps, Guatemala and a Search for Truth.This article Appears in “The Diplomat”<\/strong>)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

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by Taylor Dibbert U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently visited Sri Lanka. He was accompanied by Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. Kerry and company were welcomed with open arms by the Sirisena administration and this high-level visit is the latest (and most prominent) reminder that Sri Lanka\u2019s …<\/p>\n

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