IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 346 

Recognizing the devastating April 21, 2019, terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka 

and observing 10 years since the end of Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil 

war, which ended on May 18, 2009. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 1, 2019 

Ms. TITUS (for herself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. 

ADERHOLT, Ms. OMAR, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. 

YOHO, and Mr. CHABOT) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the devastating April 21, 2019, terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka and observing 10 years since the 

end of Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war, which ended 

on May 18, 2009. 

Whereas, on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, terrorists detonated bombs in the Sri Lankan cities of Batticaloa, 

Colombo, and Negombo, killing more than 250 people, including 45 children, and injuring at least 500 others; 

Whereas the victims came from more than a dozen countries 

and included people worshipping at Easter services at 

Zion Church in Batticaloa, St. Anthony’s Shrine in 

Kochchikade, Colombo, and St. Sebastian’s Church in 


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•HRES 346 IH 

Negombo, as well as the Cinnamon Grand, the ShangriLa, and the Kingsbury hotels; 

Whereas four American citizens were killed in the attacks; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has identified the 

group National Towheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) as responsible 

for the attacks; 

Whereas following the attack, ISIS-affiliated social media accounts published a video depicting NTJ members believed 

to be the attackers pledging allegiance to ISIS and said 

that the attackers targeted nationals of counter-ISIS coalition member nations and Christians in Sri Lanka; 

Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation has deployed a 

team of agents to Sri Lanka to support the Sri Lankan 

Government’s investigation into the April 21 terrorist attacks; 

Whereas the April 21 terrorist attacks were the deadliest in 

Sri Lanka since the end of that country’s civil war that 

concluded on May 18, 2009; 

Whereas Sri Lanka has worked toward transitional justice, 

reconciliation, and reform since the end of the country’s 

decades-long civil war and has pledged to strive for further progress on these fronts, which are essential for a 

lasting peace, ethnic and religious harmony, and a prosperous future for all; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has expressed its commitment to addressing the needs of all ethnic and religious groups, ensuring all may live in security, equality, 

and dignity, and has recognized the necessity of a political settlement to build a peaceful, equitable, and democratic society; 


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•HRES 346 IH 

Whereas reconciliation is a long-term process that must be 

led by the Sri Lankan government and driven by the people of Sri Lanka, including civil society and nongovernmental organizations; 

Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has expressed its commitment not to allow the emergency powers instituted following the April 21 terrorist attacks to infringe upon the 

civil liberties and human rights of Sri Lankans; 

Whereas the use of such emergency powers should not be allowed to exacerbate ethnic or religious conflict or to justify the abuse of the rule of law; and 

Whereas the United States is home to a large Sri Lankan diaspora that has become an integral part of and made significant contributions to American society: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) offers its deepest condolences and sym3 pathies to the families and friends of the victims, 

4 those who were injured, and all those affected by the 

5 April 21 terrorist attacks; 

6 (2) acknowledges the 10th anniversary of the 

7 end of the country’s civil war and calls on the 

8 United States Government to continue to support 

9 Sri Lanka’s efforts to advance justice, account10 ability, and reconciliation throughout the country, 

11 and the healing of all people that have been affected 

12 by the war and the April 21 terrorist attacks; 


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•HRES 346 IH 

1 (3) calls on politicians, civil society, and all Sri 

2 Lankans not to allow the April 21 terrorist attacks 

3 to impede Sri Lanka’s efforts to address the root 

4 causes of the civil war, the government’s responsi5 bility to protect citizens of all communities, or the 

6 government’s efforts to address accountability and 

7 reconciliation; 

8 (4) calls on the Sri Lankan government to en9 sure the protection of vulnerable communities, in10 cluding religious and ethnic minorities, to prevent 

11 acts of violence directed against any particular com12 munity; 

13 (5) acknowledges the importance of parties 

14 reaching a long-term political settlement that helps 

15 advance mutual respect and reconciliation in the 

16 country; and 

17 (6) calls on the United States Government to 

18 implement policy with regard to Sri Lanka that im19 proves economic and trade ties as well as human 

20 rights and addresses counter terrorism and security 

21 sector reform, while supporting initiatives that focus 

22 on accountability and reconciliation. 

Æ 


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