Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to a resolution on human rights in Sri Lanka was adopted by the U.N. Humans Rights Council:

“I welcome the UN Human Rights Council’s adoption of the U.S.-cosponsored resolution promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka. A peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka can be a key partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific. Though more than 10 years have passed since the end of Sri Lanka’s civil-war, the government’s failure to adequately investigate and address allegations of human rights violations has impeded reconciliation, and the ability to achieve the full promise of the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership. This resolution highlights the need for a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into allegations of serious violations of human rights law, and I strongly urge the Sri Lankan government to demonstrate its commitment to engaging in a meaningful accountability process.”