US panel votes to bar aid to Sri Lanka
A US congressional committee voted to ban aid to Sri Lanka unless the nation shows “accountability” over the bloodshed in the final stages of its civil war in 2009.
In a voice vote, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a measure that would ban all US government funding to Sri Lanka except for humanitarian aid, demining and activities to promote democracy and governance.
The measure — sponsored by Representative Howard Berman, the top member of President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party on the panel — would only allow aid once the administration certifies progress by Sri Lanka on key concerns.
The concerns include “accountability for those involved in violations of human rights and war crimes at the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war,” including members of the defeated rebel Tamil Tigers.
Other criteria include an improved climate for freedom of the press, an end to emergency regulations and information from the government on the fate of people unaccounted for at the end of the civil war.
The US Agency for International Development had requested close to $13 million for Sri Lanka in the 2010 fiscal year.
While the House measure enjoyed broad support, it will not immediately take effect as it was in the form of an amendment for spending in the next fiscal year starting in October. A final package will come through lengthy negotiations between the House of Representatives and Senate.
In 2009, Sri Lanka’s military killed the top leaders of the Tamil Tiger rebels, wiping out an insurgent force known for suicide bombings and recruitment of child soldiers in its decades-long separatist campaign.
The United Nations has said that up to 7,000 civilians were killed in the final months of fighting. A UN report has also spoken of abuses, alleging that the government executed rebel leaders who had worked out a surrender.
A documentary first broadcast on Britain’s Channel 4 last month purportedly shows prisoner executions, sexual assaults and the aftermath of the shelling of civilian hospitals.
Sri Lanka’s military has denied any civilian deaths and said that the footage on the documentary was doctored.
The country has promised that a local panel will take action if war crime allegations are proven but has rejected international calls for a UN-backed probe.
AFP Report – Pix by Reuters
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Good.. It’s better not to lend from such misbelievers..!
we are depened on International aid so so we always depet as a deloping country as far as my concer it is not a good sign for the future of Sri lanka it because the people of sri lanka immediately change their mind they accept baila only
This guy looks terribly outdated.
The US should copy Sri Lanka’s retirement at 60 years of age policy. Extensions only at the President’s discretion.
Go to hell us we can survive without u r aid
Go to hell US, Sri Lanka is free of terrorist now. We can live happily,Peacefully. We are a brave nation… By the way we are not sure if you have money for aid or even to feed enough your own nation…… Some one will some day get up against you. Hope we can be that proud nation….
Yeah, who cares? USAID was proposing a meagre sum of US$13m whilst our friends, Republic of China has already provided more than US$12m to the President with no strings attached to be spent by the Leader on projects and initiatives of his choice.
More than 50% of so called aid from US is taken away by bureaucrats and experts who get involved in the projects. Just as we did with EU’s GSP+, we should stand up and say “so be it” to the US as well.
They will be better off using the aid money to prop up their own Treasury after the 2nd of August on which date the US Govt will begin defaulting of Govt commitments including public service wages and financial assistance to the poor in the US.
Terrorists supporters in US now spend their money to buy US govt politicians to act against SL as possible.
US will learn a good lesson from them soon..!
i would like to pass my big thanks to goverment of US for that there disition no to provid AID to us.its maike
our cunrty poover day by day our nantion shuld think that
those aid not aid they just giving us to maik them us begers.we dont need there aid we can stand without there aid if we dont get there aid we will be not like somaliya or ithiyopiya.they are giving us AID to control us saying then do this do that if not we will stop aid,
we can survive without US aid am % sure that.let them go to hell who cares US ther think they can F us they will get F soon, CHAINA will be the best nantion to stand againts US no one can stop china we can see within onerther 10 years what will be the US position and CHAINA position.INDIA dont have a option so they will play duble game with us , US AND our tamil partys TNA.
TNA stil try to get what PRABAKARAN was asked sory my friends it will not hapen.they can asked that from thamilnadu or norway may from US olso,
once a gain i will say thanks for stoping US f AID.
yes they will am agree with u amdan, aske if US would like to give indipendant to red indian ?
Fantastic comments.
We should offer Congressman Representative, Mr Bergman, free retirement accomodation in Hambantota with a bungalow by the beach should he wish to retire and enjoy his retirement benefits.
Mr Bergman will do well by the American Peoples and the peoples of the World by retiring and giving his tired brains a bit of rest.
If he retires, the American Peoples and the peoples of the World can enjoy democracy without being remotely bossed around by an aging politician in the corridors of power in Washington DC.
Brave Lion…!!!
You’re a real real good one… With a real foresight…!
We’re going to TEACH not only US but also all fucking “misbelievers of gods myth” in the world.
We’ve shown them how to do “war on terror” already & more are coming soon..!
Yeah, Guru..! Fantastic comments indeed except only one fool slaver at 2nd above who can’t be independent.
By the way, what happened to “Nicolas”…?
Is he still making a long comment or got chicken fever as US stop aid..?!
yes what hapen to nico? you no what guys US becoming maaaad now, china develoving there militery capability
so they are worry about.
yes what hapen to nico? you know guys US becoming maaaad now,china deverlopin there militery capability so they are worry about.
They can stick their paltry aid in ‘u know where’.
Let USA be held accountable for their gross crimes against humanity and war crimes since the end of WW2. They are pariah state. Let the Arab world rise against imperial West in a new Holy Crusade to destroy this evil, inshallah, as they did before under Sal Al Udin.
Praise be to Allah!
US gullibles lost their last string to control Sri lanka. Bloody fools ! By the way, this is the best thing happened to Sri lanka after the war ended. Now we can learn to stand from our own legs rather than with US crime moneys earned by all sorts of state sponsored crime (oil wars etc).
It will take time but as we did without GSP+, we can deal with this too. This is more a cost saving by US since they are now in a debt crisis over a trillion dollors. That is why they are a little back-footed even in Libya. They don’t have money and pushing their European fools to spend money on the NATO invasion on Libya.
May be US can ask for a bank loan from Sri lanka in 20 years time. May be Sri lankans will give them an interest-free loan based on compasion.