[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2000

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution 
congratulating the people of Sri Lanka for their commitment to 
democracy in the face of on-going terrorism. I am pleased to be joined 
in this effort by Congressman Pallone of New Jersey, who with me co-
chairs the Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka.
  In December's presidential elections, the incumbent, Chandrika 
Kumaratunga, was re-elected to a second six-year term with 51 percent 
of the vote. Her nearest rival got 43 percent. The final days of the 
campaign were marred by a terrorist attack in which the President was 
injured. A total of 22 people were killed and more than 100 others 
injured in that attack and in another terrorist incident. These attacks 
have been blamed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an 
organization that has been waging a violent campaign against the Sri 
Lanka Government for more than 25 years. The LTTE has been designated a 
terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
  Yet, despite this shadow of violence, 8.6 million of the nation's 
11.8 million registered voters cast ballots, for an impressive voter 
turn-out of 73 percent. This demonstrates the strong commitment of the 
Sri Lankan people to democracy and their refusal to be intimidated by 
terrorism. International observers, invited by the Sri Lankan 
government, were on hand to monitor the election. U.S. State Department 
spokeman James P. Rubin stated on November 30th that the U.S. 
Government applauded Sri Lanka's decision to invite the international 
observers.
  Mrs. Kumaratunga, who was elected as the nation's first woman 
President in 1994, was sworn in to her second term on the day after the 
elections. In her address to the nation, the President pledged to 
combat terrorism and urged her compatriots to join her in establishing 
peace. She reached out to her main rival in the presidential race to 
join her in building a consensus to achieve these goals.
  I hope that Members will join me in support of this resolution 
recognizing the commitment of the people of Sri Lanka and their 
government to democracy and to achieving peace.

                          ____________________