Sri Lanka’s commitment for reconciliation hailed by US

Sri Lanka has made “historic” accomplishments in the past one year, signaling the people’s commitment for reconciliation, tolerance and peace, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

In a message to greet Sri Lankan people on the occasion of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Kerry said, “I offer my best wishes for a happy New Year and continued success as you move ahead with the new constitution and further efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s democracy and prosperity.”

The past year’s accomplishments have been “historic, demonstrating the deep commitment of the Sri Lankan people for reconciliation, tolerance and peace”, Kerry said.

Kerry visited Colombo in May last year to convey the US government’s appreciation of the democratic transformation in the country which laid the foundation for the new government's current efforts to achieve national reconciliation.

Kerry during his last year’s visit to Sri Lanka had praised President Maithripala Sirisena’s new government for reaching out to the Tamil minority after the end of the nearly three-decade of ethnic conflict that claimed more than 100,000 lives.

Sirisena had vowed to pursue reconciliation more vigorously than his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was known for his hardline Sinhalese nationalism.