Colombo--US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Sri Lanka Saturday that "true reconciliation" with Tamils after the island's devastating ethnic conflict will take time as he praised the new reformist government.
Kerry hailed President Maithripala Sirisena's administration for reaching out to the Tamil minority after the end of a 37-year ethnic conflict that claimed more than 100,000 lives, saying Sri Lanka was at a "pivotal moment".
"Peace has come but true reconciliation will take time," Kerry said during a speech in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
He called for justice, accountability, and human rights on the island and urged for the release of remaining political prisoners stemming from the brutal conflict which ended in 2009.
"You are working on creating an enduring peace and you are working on providing prosperity for all of your people," he said earlier after meeting top officials including Sirisena.
Since coming to power in January elections, Sirisena, who took most of the Tamil votes in the polls, has vowed to pursue reconciliation efforts more vigorously than strongman Mahinda Rajapakse, who had a reputation as a hardline Sinhalese nationalist.
Sirisena has also begun delivering on his pledges to reduce some of the powers of the president, effectively reversing changes that Rajapakse had brought in to tighten his grip.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday in favour of restoring a two-term limit for the president and reviving independent bodies to manage key institutions such as the police and the judiciary.
"Today we have talked about the enormous progress Sri Lanka has made in just a few months," said Kerry as he appeared alongside Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
"I'm here today because I want to say to the people of Sri Lanka that in (this) journey to restore your democracy the American people will stand with you," added Kerry.
AFP
