Three high ranking officials of the United States Department of State are to arrive in Sri Lanka next week to hold discussions with the Sri Lankan President and senior government officials on the government's progress on reaching a political solution and addressing accountability issues.
United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake State Department's Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Maria Otero will arrive in Sri Lanka on February 12, according to State Department sources.
The two officials are expected to enlighten the Sri Lankan President and the government on a resolution on Sri Lanka the United States plans to support at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland later this month.
Assistant Secretary Blake is scheduled to meet the Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris on Monday, February 13th, Ministry sources said.
The U.S. officials' visit ahead of the UNHRC session is viewed as a crucial step by the US government in its preparation to support a UNHRC resolution that will ask Sri Lanka to take more concrete actions towards reconciliation and especially, addressing the accountability issue and implementing the recommendations put forward by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
The 19th session of the UNHRC will be held from February 27 - March 23.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has invited External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris to Washington next month to further discuss Sri Lankan government's plans for reconciliation and a political solution and brief the U.S. Congress on an action plan.
Another U.S. official, Stephen J. Rapp, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka today.
Rapp is expected to have high level discussions with the Sri Lankan government officials including the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, opposition and civil society leaders.
However, neither Sri Lankan government nor the US Embassy in Colombo had issued an official statement regarding the official's visit.
Reportedly, the Obama envoy will be in Sri Lanka to mainly review the final LLRC report and discuss its findings and recommendations with relevant officials.
CP
