US Congressional Caucus hosts briefing on security sector reform in Sri Lanka

The U.S. Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka hosted a briefing on security sector reform in Sri Lanka.

The co-chairs of the Caucus, Representatives Bill Johnson (Republican – Ohio) and Danny Davis (Democrat – Illinois), gave opening remarks about the need to pressure the Sirisena government to implement security sector reforms.

Representative Johnson noted that “essential reforms to Sri Lanka’s security sector are still badly needed,” citing the need for the government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act.”

Representative Davis recounted how, during the war, his host in Sri Lanka was murdered and an orphanage he had visited was bombed by the government. Representative Davis then commended “the people who’ve been fighting, working, and trying to raise enough awareness so that world leaders would also be engaged and involved.”

After the Representatives’ remarks, Kara Bue of Armitage International and Anjali Manivannan of People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) delivered their presentations, after which the floor opened for discussion and questions.