Ten U.S. Congress members urge additional support for Sri Lanka

 

In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, the ten congresspersons urged to take additional swift action to provide meaningful support to the Sri Lankan people in their time of need. 

They, however, welcomed the efforts of the State Department and USAID have made to address the urgent needs of the people of Sri Lanka. Stating that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his new position of power, announced a state of emergency, placed the nation under curfew, denounced the protests, and even suggested the use of live ammunition in quelling them, the congresspersons urged the U.S. State Department to continue to use all diplomatic means available to ensure the Sri Lankan government protects the right of suffering citizens to peacefully protest and does not utilize violence against peaceful demonstrators and journalists. 

The congress members urged the U.S. Administration to continue to support the Sri Lankan government and people as they work to implement democratic and economic reforms.