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 organiza-
tion 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 
whether any person, group, or institution directly or indi-
rectly bears responsibility for incidents that occurred be-
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•HRES 247 IH 
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 rec-
onciliation among all communities; 
Whereas the LLRC report was presented to the Sri Lankan 
Parliament on December 16, 2011, and officially trans-
lated 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 polit-
ical violence and civil war in Sri Lanka and makes con-
structive recommendations on a wide range of issues, in-
cluding the need to credibly investigate widespread alle-
gations 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 or-
ganizations have called on the Government of Sri Lanka 
to implement the recommendations of its own LLRC Re-
port; 
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka expressed its commit-
ment 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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•HRES 247 IH 
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has developed the Na-
tional Plan of Action to implement some of the 285 rec-
ommendations of the LLRC; 
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has made progress on 
rehabilitation, resettlement of displaced persons, and im-
provement of infrastructure in the north and east; 
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 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, bi-
lateral trade, and investment in Sri Lanka and coincide 
with United States policy that such commissions of in-
quiry 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, ac-
countability, and reform as set forth by the LLRC pre-
cludes a lasting settlement and encourages continued na-
tional 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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•HRES 247 IH 
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 exem-
plified by the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Human Rights Navi Pillay’s February 11, 2013, report 
calling for an ‘‘independent and credible international in-
vestigation 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 resolu-
tion echoing the conclusions of Commissioner Pillay’s re-
port and advocating for the ‘‘establishment of a truth- 
seeking mechanism as an integral part of a more com-
prehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice’’; 
Whereas a statement urging the Government of Sri Lanka to 
follow through on its own recommendations in a trans-
parent, timely manner conforms with the obligations of 
the United States and all nations to advocate for peace 
and stability in the international community without in-
fringing 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 polit-
ical turmoil: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 247 IH 
(1) calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to 
build on its establishment of the Lessons Learnt and 
Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and that Com-
mission’s constructive recommendations on issues of 
paramount importance to Sri Lanka in a credible, 
transparent, and expeditious manner; 
(2) recognizes that the LLRC report did not 
adequately address issues of accountability for both 
the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Ti-
gers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), for credible allega-
tions of war crimes and crimes against humanity; 
(3) calls for the establishment of a credible, 
international, independent accountability mechanism 
to look into allegations of war crimes, crimes against 
humanity, and other human rights violations com-
mitted by all sides during and after the war in Sri 
Lanka, and to make recommendations regarding ac-
countability; 
(4) encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to 
allow for greater media freedoms and ensure the 
protection of journalists; 
(5) urges the Government of Sri Lanka to allow 
humanitarian organizations and international human 
rights groups greater access to the war-affected, in-
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cluding rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres, and those de-
tained; 
(6) acknowledges the end of the war and calls 
on the Government of Sri Lanka to prioritize a proc-
ess of demilitarization throughout the country; and 
(7) acknowledges the importance for parties to 
reach a political settlement on the meaningful decen-
tralization of power and power-sharing. 
Æ 
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