‘Human rights an essential element of Lankan future’ - US

Washington, June 26 (PTI): Noting that human rights is an essential element of Sri Lanka’s future, US has said that the Rajapaksa Government should use the post-LTTE situation to establish a new dynamic relationship with its people.

“We’ve stressed in Sri Lanka many times, there’s an important opportunity here to change its relations with its population and subgroups within its population,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, told reporters.

“Human rights is an essential element of Sri Lanka’s future and it should take the opportunity, co-operate broadly, and establish a new dynamic and relationship with its people,” he said in response to a question.

Crowley was responding to questions about the decision of the Sri Lankan Government not to allow a UN panel to enter the country to investigate alleged human rights abuses during the last stages of the country’s civil war.