Meeting with Obama officials:

GL urges deeper US, Lanka ties

External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris urged a “broader and deeper relationship between the United States of America and Sri Lanka” emphasizing the ‘sea change’ in Sri Lanka in his meetings with the top officials and think tank of the Obama administration in his current visit to the US, the External Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

Minister Peiris’ four day US tour to inform Congress and US government officials about Sri Lanka’s economic development achievements and reconciliation effort will culminate in an official meeting with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the Ministry release said.

He addressed the academics of the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank in Washington DC noting the ‘sea ‘change’ evident in Sri Lanka after the victory over terrorism one year ago. He said Sri Lanka is a land of great potential and discussed the stunning economic achievements and a new outlook for tourism in the country in the coming months.

He stressed “it is time for the US to take a fresh look at Sri Lanka.”

The Minister called for deeper ties between Sri Lanka and the United States. We are in ‘unreserved agreement with last year’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee report calling for a ‘multi-faceted relationship’ that embraces trade, security and economic ties, not just human rights. On human rights, the Minister emphasized the importance of Sri Lanka’s efforts at reconciliation. “We understand that military victory was not the end but the beginning.”

The event was moderated by Heritage Asian Study Program Head Walter Lohman. Key attendees included Heritage Foundation’s Centre for International Trade and Economics Director Ambassador Terry Miller, Senator John Kerry’s Foreign Policy Aide Fatema Sumar and Senator Richard’s Lugar’s Foreign Policy Aide Nilmini Rubin.

Following the Heritage Foundation event, Minister Peiris met with Undersecretary of defence for Policy Michele Flournoy. Flournoy acts as the premier advisor to Defence Secretary Robert Gates and the Deputy Secretary of Defence and handles a wide range of national security and defence policies.

Minister Peiris also met Congressman Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the Subcomittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Committee on Foreign Affairs. Later the Minister met National Security Advisor General James L. Jones who serves as the chief advisor to US President Barack Obama on national security issues.

Al Jazeera’s Riz Khan interviewed Minister Peiris in the afternoon. During the interview, Minister Peiris spoke about the defeat of LTTE and the great impact it has had on Sri Lanka.

He said the end of the LTTE meant “freedom from unmitigated oppression” for all Sri Lankans. When pressed about the current state of Tamil community after the defeat of the LTTE, Minister Peiris remarked: “The vast majority of Tamil’s didn’t want to live under the yoke of the LTTE.” He continued: “They are happy about the freedom that has now come to them.”

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya held a dinner in honour of Minister Peiris at his residence.