In 2011, the United States will strive to strengthen cooperation between our two countries. There will certainly be times when our governments have policy differences, but those differences do not have to hinder our broad cooperation. My Embassy will continue to meet and listen to the full range of Sri Lankan voices to determine how best our friendship, assistance and advocacy can strengthen and deepen our dynamic partnership.
(January 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Around the world, people mark the New Year by reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the next. In that vein, I’d like to look back at the highlights of the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership in 2010 and look ahead to 2011. 2010 was marked by a number of important events in Sri Lanka. The first full year of peace in decades, 2010 saw the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); the demining of large swaths of the North; increased economic growth throughout the country; and the establishment of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. The United States welcomed these achievements and worked hand in hand with the people of Sri Lanka -- as we have in the past and will in the future to support a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future for all Sri Lankans. Despite some serious disagreements over policies, 2010 also witnessed a further strengthening in relations between the U.S. and Sri Lanka. Guided by an equal-partnership and by mutual interests, the people and governments of our two countries continued strong collaboration across a number of fields.
In education, 3,000 Sri Lankans attended U.S. universities and colleges; a number of U.S and Sri Lankan scholars participated in exchanges organized by the Sri Lanka-United States Fulbright Commission and the American Institute of Sri Lankan Studies to conduct research in a variety of disciplines; and several U.S. and Sri Lankan universities continued collaboration in fields such agriculture, medicine, and environmental studies.
In trade and investment, the United States remained Sri Lanka’s largest single trading partner and Americans held the highest percentage of Sri Lankan bonds and other short-term investments. In October, for the second year in a row, our Embassy organized the visit of a delegation of American businesspeople to Sri Lanka to explore trade and investment opportunities.
In tourism, bolstered by the improving security situation, the number of Americans visiting Sri Lanka increased. Among those tourists were members of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the United States. I met numerous Sri Lankan Americans who were eager to contribute to development in Sri Lanka. Some were interested in starting businesses, others in organizing exchange programs, and still others in teaching English in rural schools. Also among the tourists were volunteers who constructed homes with Habitat for Humanity and students who raised funds in the U.S. to support medical care in eastern Sri Lanka.
Our military cooperation, while limited, continued in 2010. In July, for the first time in several years, a U.S. Navy ship visited Sri Lanka, allowing U.S. sailors and marines to interact with their Sri Lankan counterparts. Also this year, a team of U.S. and Sri Lankan, military and civilian specialists in health and engineering conducted free medical clinics and reconstructed a school in the Puttalam district. A young Sri Lankan Air Force officer also received a scholarship to study at the U.S. Air Force Academy, continuing a long tradition of Sri Lankans who have attended U.S. military academies.
In global security, Sri Lanka and the United States worked together to combat terrorist threats. In the United States, legal authorities continued investigations and prosecutions of individuals who provided material support to the LTTE which the U.S. was the first country to ban as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997. We also worked together to identify sources of terrorist financing and to ensure that no terrorist organization uses our financial systems.
In humanitarian assistance, over the past two and a half years we have contributed $75 million in food aid, including $8 million over the past four months. This assistance has provided the bulk of the food and nourishment for IDPs since the war’s end first for IDPs who were in camps and now for those who have resettled or are staying with host families. The United States also has been a leading supporter of demining efforts. Over the past 18 months, we have contributed nearly $11 million in financial support, training, and equipment to assist the Government of Sri Lanka’s demining efforts.
The U.S. has also supported a wide range of programs to improve the daily life and economic prospects of Sri Lankans. The U.S. Agency for International Development has created 20,000 full-time jobs in the North and East through an innovative series of partnerships with private companies. Through our 18 Access centers, spread throughout Sri Lanka, the Embassy provides two years of free English language instruction to hundreds of youth in rural areas. We have also given many small grants to youth organizations to enable them to help clean up the environment, help the disabled, establish IT centers, and promote science and technology.
In 2011, the United States will strive to strengthen cooperation between our two countries. There will certainly be times when our governments have policy differences, but those differences do not have to hinder our broad cooperation. My Embassy will continue to meet and listen to the full range of Sri Lankan voices to determine how best our friendship, assistance and advocacy can strengthen and deepen our dynamic partnership.
We shall continue to promote expanded trade and investment between our two countries. We shall continue to promote academic partnerships and the exchange of people and ideas. We shall continue our support for those affected by the conflict both those displaced by fighting at the end of the war and those who were forced from their homes by the LTTE decades ago. We shall also continue to promote opportunities for Sri Lankans to work across geographic and ethnic lines to heal the wounds of the conflict.
Lastly, as an essential element of reconciliation, we shall continue to advocate the thorough investigation of allegations of atrocities and injustices that may have been committed by any party during the war and that those responsible be held accountable for their actions.
I am confident that in one year’s time, when we look back at 2011, we will see that the relationship between the United States and Sri Lanka has grown even stronger. There will be times when we disagree, but our cooperation will endure and the people of our two countries will continue to benefit from a strong and dynamic relationship.
by Patricia Butenis
U.S. Ambassador for Sri Lanka and Maldives
(January 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Around the world, people mark the New Year by reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the next. In that vein, I’d like to look back at the highlights of the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership in 2010 and look ahead to 2011. 2010 was marked by a number of important events in Sri Lanka. The first full year of peace in decades, 2010 saw the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); the demining of large swaths of the North; increased economic growth throughout the country; and the establishment of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. The United States welcomed these achievements and worked hand in hand with the people of Sri Lanka -- as we have in the past and will in the future to support a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future for all Sri Lankans. Despite some serious disagreements over policies, 2010 also witnessed a further strengthening in relations between the U.S. and Sri Lanka. Guided by an equal-partnership and by mutual interests, the people and governments of our two countries continued strong collaboration across a number of fields.
In education, 3,000 Sri Lankans attended U.S. universities and colleges; a number of U.S and Sri Lankan scholars participated in exchanges organized by the Sri Lanka-United States Fulbright Commission and the American Institute of Sri Lankan Studies to conduct research in a variety of disciplines; and several U.S. and Sri Lankan universities continued collaboration in fields such agriculture, medicine, and environmental studies.
In trade and investment, the United States remained Sri Lanka’s largest single trading partner and Americans held the highest percentage of Sri Lankan bonds and other short-term investments. In October, for the second year in a row, our Embassy organized the visit of a delegation of American businesspeople to Sri Lanka to explore trade and investment opportunities.
In tourism, bolstered by the improving security situation, the number of Americans visiting Sri Lanka increased. Among those tourists were members of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the United States. I met numerous Sri Lankan Americans who were eager to contribute to development in Sri Lanka. Some were interested in starting businesses, others in organizing exchange programs, and still others in teaching English in rural schools. Also among the tourists were volunteers who constructed homes with Habitat for Humanity and students who raised funds in the U.S. to support medical care in eastern Sri Lanka.
Our military cooperation, while limited, continued in 2010. In July, for the first time in several years, a U.S. Navy ship visited Sri Lanka, allowing U.S. sailors and marines to interact with their Sri Lankan counterparts. Also this year, a team of U.S. and Sri Lankan, military and civilian specialists in health and engineering conducted free medical clinics and reconstructed a school in the Puttalam district. A young Sri Lankan Air Force officer also received a scholarship to study at the U.S. Air Force Academy, continuing a long tradition of Sri Lankans who have attended U.S. military academies.
In global security, Sri Lanka and the United States worked together to combat terrorist threats. In the United States, legal authorities continued investigations and prosecutions of individuals who provided material support to the LTTE which the U.S. was the first country to ban as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997. We also worked together to identify sources of terrorist financing and to ensure that no terrorist organization uses our financial systems.
In humanitarian assistance, over the past two and a half years we have contributed $75 million in food aid, including $8 million over the past four months. This assistance has provided the bulk of the food and nourishment for IDPs since the war’s end first for IDPs who were in camps and now for those who have resettled or are staying with host families. The United States also has been a leading supporter of demining efforts. Over the past 18 months, we have contributed nearly $11 million in financial support, training, and equipment to assist the Government of Sri Lanka’s demining efforts.
The U.S. has also supported a wide range of programs to improve the daily life and economic prospects of Sri Lankans. The U.S. Agency for International Development has created 20,000 full-time jobs in the North and East through an innovative series of partnerships with private companies. Through our 18 Access centers, spread throughout Sri Lanka, the Embassy provides two years of free English language instruction to hundreds of youth in rural areas. We have also given many small grants to youth organizations to enable them to help clean up the environment, help the disabled, establish IT centers, and promote science and technology.
In 2011, the United States will strive to strengthen cooperation between our two countries. There will certainly be times when our governments have policy differences, but those differences do not have to hinder our broad cooperation. My Embassy will continue to meet and listen to the full range of Sri Lankan voices to determine how best our friendship, assistance and advocacy can strengthen and deepen our dynamic partnership.
We shall continue to promote expanded trade and investment between our two countries. We shall continue to promote academic partnerships and the exchange of people and ideas. We shall continue our support for those affected by the conflict both those displaced by fighting at the end of the war and those who were forced from their homes by the LTTE decades ago. We shall also continue to promote opportunities for Sri Lankans to work across geographic and ethnic lines to heal the wounds of the conflict.
Lastly, as an essential element of reconciliation, we shall continue to advocate the thorough investigation of allegations of atrocities and injustices that may have been committed by any party during the war and that those responsible be held accountable for their actions.
I am confident that in one year’s time, when we look back at 2011, we will see that the relationship between the United States and Sri Lanka has grown even stronger. There will be times when we disagree, but our cooperation will endure and the people of our two countries will continue to benefit from a strong and dynamic relationship.
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