Critics distorting facts:

SL preserves human rights

"The Sri Lankan government preserves human rights of all Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka has entered in a new era of lasting peace, prosperity," Sri Lankan ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya said.

Wickramasuriya was addressing a meeting at the East-West Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii. He said critics are distorting the facts of Sri Lanka's 2009 victory over terrorism, and that the resettlement of civilians displaced by the conflict has been continuous since the conflict's end.

"Peace and freedom from fear and violence are very basic human rights, Ambassador Wickramasuriya said. The government restored vital human rights to all Sri Lankans, Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, Burghers and many others, when it defeated the terrorists."

Ambassador Wickramasuriya said government forces exercised maximum restraint and maintained a zero-civilian casualties policy during the conflict against the terrorist group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The destruction of a band of terrorists, freed the country, and its people, to live and prosper in peace.

"Sri Lanka's economy had a gross domestic product of eight percent in 2010, while unemployment and inflation remained low. Tourism increased 50 percent in 2010 and is on track to grow more this year, while foreign investment is slated to reach $1 billion in 2011.

"Sri Lanka has received important financial support from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank.

The IMF, in particular, monitors Sri Lanka's economy and has given consistent high marks".

The World Bank, he said, has reported that Sri Lanka is moving from a developing to a middle-income country.

Sri Lanka is focused on post-conflict peace-building tasks in the North and East. The work involves comprehensive and concerted efforts undertaken by the government in the fields of resettlement, rehabilitation, livelihood support and infrastructure development, which includes the construction of new homes, hospitals, schools, roads, bridges, railways and water systems. Electricity will be brought to every household for the first time.

The ambassador said Sri Lanka has resettled in record time nearly all of the 300,000 people displaced by the conflict.

'The government has rehabilitated more than 1,000 child soldiers kidnapped by the terrorists. They are with their families now. The government has given 11,000 former terrorist amnesty and rehabilitation, which includes job training and tutoring. Nearly 7,000 have returned to society.

He said Sri Lanka has established an independent mechanism for reconciliation - `the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.'