Colombo Gazette: Colombo: Tuesday,
May 17, 2016.
The United
States today noted the importance of Right to Information in Sri Lanka saying
it will give Sri Lankans the tools to make their country a better place, and
prevent any return to an era of secrecy and a lack of accountability.
US Ambassador
Atul Keshap, speaking at a Right to Information (RTI) interactive dialogue
launch at the Water’s Edge Hotel said that any democracy requires that
Government officials be accountable to the citizens who elected them, and that
accountability requires transparency.
“Just as
President Obama made government transparency one of his first priorities, I am
also encouraged by similar pledges from President Sirisena, Prime Minister
Wickremesinghe, and other top government officials in Sri Lanka. Certainly, the last elections have shown that
Sri Lanka’s voters consider government transparency a priority,” he said.
The
Ambassador also noted that as US Secretary of State Jon Kerry promised during
his visit to Sri Lanka a year ago, the United States will stand by the side of
Sri Lanka as the country makes progress on the important good governance
reforms and human rights commitments.
He also noted
that the current Government understood that a preponderant majority of
well-meaning Sri Lankans want transition to an era of reconciliation, unity,
peace, democracy, and rule of law.
“I applaud
your resolve to help Sri Lanka restore its standing in the international
community, including, notably, through historic co-sponsorship of the UN
Resolution that pledges Sri Lanka to tread the difficult but essential path
toward reconciliation, truth, justice, and non-recurrence of conflict for allm”
he said.
He also noted
that there are other important decisions before the Government including some
that will require principled leadership and determination in order to set the
country firmly on a path towards greater and lasting peace and prosperity.
“The effort
to make the Constitution more fair and inclusive, to reflect and celebrate the
diversity of Sri Lanka, to ensure equal rights and opportunity for all Sri
Lankans, to empower citizens to achieve their full potential, reflects a
courageous, positive, and principled vision. Atul RTIReplacing the outdated
Prevention of Terrorism Act with a new national security legal architecture can
help not only prevent future abuses, but also ensure stronger defenses against
modern threats to Sri Lanka, and to it democracy and citizens’ rights. All of
you understand the heart-breaking need to create a credible and effective
institution to bring truth, resolution, and justice to those families who lost
loved ones on both sides of the war, and to foster a lasting climate of
reconciliation and brotherhood after so many years of conflict. Your government
has launched a discussion with ordinary citizens and civil society to determine
the best way forward, and we look forward to steady progress toward healing
these wounds, including the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons, and
other helpful steps,” he added.
He said the
United States looks forward to opportunities to provide more support, bring
more resources, and share more expertise in Sri Lanka’s efforts to be at the
rightful place as a leader in the international community, one that contributes
to the global economy; promotes human rights, accountability, transitional
justice, and democracy; and that helps to uphold international law.
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