US Congressional Delegation Praises SL Development
Congressional delegation meeting with Defense Sec Rajapaksa
COLOMBO, Oct. 21 -- A delegation of U.S. Congressmen on a visit here to assess post-war reconciliation and development praised Sri Lanka for defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels, the Sri Lankan president's office said on Friday. The delegation led by U.S. Congressman Albert Benjamin Chandler (D-KY) had met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed the development in the country.
The U.S. Congress members had said that Sri Lanka and its leaders deserve much more praise from the international community than now for defeating the world's worst terrorist organization, according to the president's office.
The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry invited three U.S. congressmen to visit Sri Lanka and counter allegations of war crimes by seeing the present state of the country first hand.
The three-member delegation led by representative Albert Benjamin Representative include Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Joseph Schuler (D-NC) arrived in Sri Lanka accompanied by Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya.
The visiting delegation had also noted that leveling allegations against Sri Lanka is a matter for regret, the president's office said.
Sri Lanka has been accused of committing human rights abuses during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009. President Rajapaksa requested the Congressmen to reveal to the world the true image of Sri Lanka. He also elaborated on the development initiatives undertaken by the government across the country, the president's office said.
The delegation also met with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Oct. 18, and discussed a range of issues including Tamil Tiger activities in foreign countries.
The U.S. Congress members had said that Sri Lanka and its leaders deserve much more praise from the international community than now for defeating the world's worst terrorist organization, according to the president's office.
The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry invited three U.S. congressmen to visit Sri Lanka and counter allegations of war crimes by seeing the present state of the country first hand.
The three-member delegation led by representative Albert Benjamin Representative include Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Joseph Schuler (D-NC) arrived in Sri Lanka accompanied by Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya.
The visiting delegation had also noted that leveling allegations against Sri Lanka is a matter for regret, the president's office said.
Sri Lanka has been accused of committing human rights abuses during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009. President Rajapaksa requested the Congressmen to reveal to the world the true image of Sri Lanka. He also elaborated on the development initiatives undertaken by the government across the country, the president's office said.
The delegation also met with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Oct. 18, and discussed a range of issues including Tamil Tiger activities in foreign countries.