IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 247 

Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and reconciliation 

within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting peace. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2013 

Mr. GRIMM (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. HOLT, 

Mr. LANCE, and Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and 

reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to 

ensure a lasting peace. 

Whereas it has been 4 years since the end of the 26-year long 

conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 

(LTTE), which was declared a foreign terrorist organization in 1997, and the Government of Sri Lanka; 

Whereas the people of Sri Lanka suffered greatly as a result 

of this conflict, the impact, and aftermath of which has 

been felt especially by women, children, and families; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka established a Lessons 

Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to report 

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tween February 2002 and May 2009, and to recommend 

measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in 

the future and promote further national unity and reconciliation among all communities; 

Whereas the LLRC report was presented to the Sri Lankan 

Parliament on December 16, 2011, and officially translated into Sinhala and Tamil on August 16, 2012, and 

took note of the LLRC report’s possible contribution to 

the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka; 

Whereas the LLRC report acknowledges important events 

and grievances that have contributed to decades of political violence and civil war in Sri Lanka and makes constructive recommendations on a wide range of issues, including the need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, 

and intentional targeting of civilians and noncombatants, 

demilitarizing the north and the country as a whole, 

reaching a political settlement with minority communities 

on the meaningful devolution of power, and promoting 

and protecting the right to freedom of expression for all 

through the enactment of a right to information law and 

additional rule of law reforms; 

Whereas the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 

India, and other governments and intergovernmental organizations have called on the Government of Sri Lanka 

to implement the recommendations of its own LLRC Report; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka expressed its commitment to address the needs of all ethnic groups, notably 

the Tamils and Muslims, and has recognized, in the past, 

the necessity of a political settlement and reconciliation 

for a peaceful and just society; 


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Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has developed the National Plan of Action to implement some of the 285 recommendations of the LLRC; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has made progress on 

rehabilitation, resettlement of displaced persons, and improvement of infrastructure in the north and east; 

Whereas the LLRC noted that the failure of successive governments to implement the ‘‘critical recommendations of 

past commissions gives rise to understandable criticism 

and skepticism regarding Government appointed Commissions from which the LLRC has not been spared’’; 

Whereas progress on investigations into reports of war 

crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights 

violations during the conflict and promoting reconciliation 

would facilitate enhanced United States engagement, bilateral trade, and investment in Sri Lanka and coincide 

with United States policy that such commissions of inquiry have been instrumental in providing accountability 

and redressing wrongdoing during periods of internal 

strife; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka’s failure to conduct a 

credible investigation into alleged war crimes and human 

rights abuses committed by all sides and to implement its 

own stated priorities of post-conflict reconciliation, accountability, and reform as set forth by the LLRC precludes a lasting settlement and encourages continued national strife that has the potential to further destabilize 

a region vital to United States diplomatic and strategic 

interests; 

Whereas a firm statement advocating for truth, justice, and 

accountability into continued reports of militarization, 


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kidnapping and intimidation, and extrajudicial killings 

since the cessation of conflict in 2009 comports with 

statements and recommendations by key figures, experts, 

and institutions in the international community as exemplified by the United Nations High Commissioner for 

Human Rights Navi Pillay’s February 11, 2013, report 

calling for an ‘‘independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international human 

rights and humanitarian law’’, and also reaffirms central 

rhetorical and institutional commitments supported by 

the United States and its allies, particularly the March 

21, 2013, United Nations Human Rights Council resolution echoing the conclusions of Commissioner Pillay’s report and advocating for the ‘‘establishment of a truthseeking mechanism as an integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice’’; 

Whereas a statement urging the Government of Sri Lanka to 

follow through on its own recommendations in a transparent, timely manner conforms with the obligations of 

the United States and all nations to advocate for peace 

and stability in the international community without infringing upon the sovereignty of the Government of Sri 

Lanka or expressing a sense of support for any party in 

the conflict; and 

Whereas the United States is home to a large community of 

ethnic Sri Lankans and expatriates outside of Sri Lanka, 

many of which have a salient, emotional interest in a 

meaningful resolution to the country’s violence and political turmoil: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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1 (1) calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to 

2 build on its establishment of the Lessons Learnt and 

3 Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and that Com4 mission’s constructive recommendations on issues of 

5 paramount importance to Sri Lanka in a credible, 

6 transparent, and expeditious manner; 

7 (2) recognizes that the LLRC report did not 

8 adequately address issues of accountability for both 

9 the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Ti10 gers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), for credible allega11 tions of war crimes and crimes against humanity; 

12 (3) calls for the establishment of a credible, 

13 international, independent accountability mechanism 

14 to look into allegations of war crimes, crimes against 

15 humanity, and other human rights violations com16 mitted by all sides during and after the war in Sri 

17 Lanka, and to make recommendations regarding ac18 countability; 

19 (4) encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to 

20 allow for greater media freedoms and ensure the 

21 protection of journalists; 

22 (5) urges the Government of Sri Lanka to allow 

23 humanitarian organizations and international human 

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1 cluding rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres, and those de2 tained; 

3 (6) acknowledges the end of the war and calls 

4 on the Government of Sri Lanka to prioritize a proc5 ess of demilitarization throughout the country; and 

6 (7) acknowledges the importance for parties to 

7 reach a political settlement on the meaningful decen8 tralization of power and power-sharing. 

Æ 


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