IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 587 
Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, accountability, and 
reconciliation within Sri Lanka so that Sri Lankans from all ethnic 
and religious communities may benefit from the end of the country’s 
26-year civil war. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 19, 2014 
Mr. HOLT (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, and Mr. TIERNEY) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, ac-
countability, and reconciliation within Sri Lanka so that 
Sri Lankans from all ethnic and religious communities 
may benefit from the end of the country’s 26-year civil 
war. 
Whereas May 19, 2014, marks the 5-year anniversary of the 
end of the 26-year conflict between the terrorist Libera-
tion Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and the Govern-
ment of Sri Lanka; 
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•HRES 587 IH 
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 rec-
ommend measures to prevent the recurrence of conflict in 
the future and promote further national unity and rec-
onciliation among all communities; 
Whereas the LLRC report acknowledges important events 
and grievances that contributed to decades of political vi-
olence 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 and enforced disappearances, demili-
tarize the north and the country as a whole, reach a po-
litical settlement with minority communities on the mean-
ingful devolution of power, promote and protect the right 
to freedom of expression for all, including the enactment 
of a right to information law,; 
Whereas and enact rule of law reforms; 
Whereas implementation of the LLRC report’s recommenda-
tions would contribute to the process of national rec-
onciliation in Sri Lanka; 
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka, has repeatedly in-
voked the LLRC as a domestic mechanism to address 
issues arising from the war’s conclusion, but has simulta-
neously distanced itself from many of the LLRC’s final 
recommendations; 
Whereas in the almost 4 years since the tabling of the LLRC 
report in Sri Lanka’s Parliament, very few of its rec-
ommendations have been successfully implemented, forc-
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•HRES 587 IH 
ing the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 
2014, to pass a resolution calling for the Office of the 
High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a com-
prehensive investigation into allegations of serious viola-
tions and abuses of human rights; 
Whereas the LLRC noted that the failure of successive gov-
ernments to implement the ‘‘critical recommendations of 
past commissions gives rise to understandable criticism 
and skepticism regarding Government appointed Commis-
sions from which the LLRC has not been spared’’; 
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has made progress on 
resettlement of displaced persons and improvements to 
infrastructure in the North and East; 
Whereas the United States Department of State’s 2012 
Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka outlines ongoing 
concerns regarding landownership and property restitu-
tion, including instances where large numbers of persons 
have not received restitution for land that remains part 
of government high security zones; 
Whereas the continued military presence on private lands is 
preventing the full resettlement of internally displaced 
persons who desire a return to peaceful life; 
Whereas the September 21, 2013, elections in Sri Lanka for 
the Northern, Central, and North Western Provincial 
Councils were a good first step in devolving power to the 
provinces, though providing all councils with the ability 
to make their own development and policing decisions 
would enhance the impact of such elections; 
Whereas the President of Sri Lanka committed to a political 
solution with implementation of the country’s 13th 
amendment to bring about lasting peace and reconcili-
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