[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8283]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               SRI LANKA

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise to encourage our Department of 
State to review its current policies regarding the country of Sri 
Lanka, and seek further engagement with its leadership so as to assist 
them as they continue their progress toward complete reconciliation and 
reconstruction after 30 years of the civil war against the Tamil Tiger 
terrorists.
  As you know, four years ago Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil rebels, and 
is currently recovering from the economic, political, and social 
upheaval caused by this destructive civil war. Peace has brought 
historic post-conflict recovery, and I find that Sri Lanka has brought 
the dividends of peace in an inclusive manner, in particular to those 
in the north and the east of the country from where suicide bombers and 
other terrorist attacks were once launched.
  It is my understanding that, since the war ended, those two areas 
have seen an economic growth of 22%, compared to an average of 7.5% in 
the rest of the country. It is also my understanding that Sri Lanka has 
removed half a million anti-personnel mines, resettled 300,000 
internally displaced people and re-established vital social services in 
the areas of health and education. It is making progress in other areas 
of reconciliation in accordance with its legislative and budgetary 
procedures, and is expected to conduct elections in the north in 
September--an important step towards political reconciliation. Such 
processes take time, as we have learned from our own Civil War.
  It seems to me that Sri Lanka is developing into a key economy, both 
in its own right and as a gateway to India. It is my understanding that 
U.S. private investment there totals billions in long term Sri Lankan 
bonds. Such investments there, however, are not as visible as the 
airports and harbors financed by China and other governments. 
Regardless, it is my understanding that at this time, Sri Lanka 
continues to present a unique window of investment opportunities for 
U.S. companies.
  In addition, Sri Lanka's geo-strategic location and deep-water ports 
could be vital to the long term financial and national security 
interests of the U.S. Some 50% of all container traffic and 70% of the 
world's energy supplies pass within sight of the Sri Lankan coast.
  Understandably, U.S. policies towards Sri Lanka have focused on 
accountability for what happened during the last phases of the civil 
war as well as on steps toward reconciliation efforts that seek 
inclusion of former terrorist enemies into the democratic process. 
While these aspects are very important and deserving of support, I 
believe there is the opportunity to engage in a wider approach at the 
same time that takes into account economic and geostrategic 
considerations. Maybe a wider approach would have a positive influence 
overall.
  I have expressed these points recently in correspondence to Secretary 
Kerry, urging him to undertake at the Department of State a review of 
our current policies towards Sri Lanka to ensure that we not only 
encourage continued reconciliation that includes political transparency 
especially in the upcoming election in the north but also recognize Sri 
Lanka's potential to be a strong financial and national security ally 
in the future.
  Secretary Kerry has replied agreeing with me that promising economic 
growth is occurring in Sri Lanka after years of terrorist insurgency, 
and that this country can play a significant geopolitical role in U.S. 
strategic security interests in South Asia and the Indian Ocean. The 
State Department, however, points out that Sri Lanka still needs to 
achieve ``meaningful reconciliation between the Sinhala majority and 
Tamil and Muslim minorities.''
  I take the State Department at its word, and believe the upcoming 
September 7 Provincial Council elections in the north can be a 
meaningful act of reconciliation between the Sinhala majority and Tamil 
Muslim minorities. And if they are deemed to be conducted in a free and 
fair manner, I will renew my request to Secretary Kerry to re-access 
our current policies towards Sri Lanka.

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