Washington: The US feels that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should reach out to the Tamils in the new political environment following the defeat of LTTE.
"I think it`s important for the administration of President Rajapaksa to reach out to the Tamils. He did in fact make a visit up to Jaffna recently," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, told BBC in an interview.
"But it`s important that they feel that they`re going to be able to live a future of hope and of opportunity, that the internally displaced people that are now in camps -- there are still approximately 100,000 of them -- that they be allowed to go back to their homes," he said.
"And if all of those things are achieved and there`s greater respect for human rights, and I think also some accountability for some of the past violations, I think all of those would contribute a great deal to this reconciliation that I was speaking of," Blake said.
When asked if he is worried about nepotism in Sri Lanka, Blake said there has been a long tradition of that kind of family business in the country. "The Bandaranaikes, before the Rajapaksas, and several other families, have had that kind of thing. So I don`t think that`s unusual in the Sri Lankan context. I think what is important, again, is that there just be free and fair elections and that the Sri Lankan people perceive that there`s a fair process," he observed.
Blake said he sees a real hope for peace in the country. "I think this is a real important opportunity right now. The President has always said that he would like to get a two-thirds majority in the parliament that would then allow him to amend the Sri Lankan constitution," he said.
"He (Rajapaksa) has said that he is committed to implementing what is known as the 13th amendment which would provide for devolution of power to the provinces, including to the Northern Province. He has also I think committed to reconciliation. So I think it is very important now that that proceed," Blake said adding that it has to be seen how these elections turn out.
"It appears that he will indeed - his party will – enjoy a majority. I think it is too early to say whether he is going to get that two-thirds majority. But it is likely that he is going to benefit from some crossovers as well. So it is possible that he could get to the two-thirds level," Blake said. He also hoped that General Fonseka will be tried in accordance with Sri Lankan law.
PTI
