August 2005 Press Releases

The following statement was released by the U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman on August 16, 2005.

Colombo, August 17, 2005. 

Secretary Rice speeks at at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, August 16.

Remarks

August 16, 2005
Washington, D.C.

(3:45 p.m. EDT)

SECRETARY RICE:  I have come on behalf of President Bush and on behalf of the American people to honor the memory of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar.  I had the honor and pleasure of meeting him just a few weeks ago when he was here in Washington.  He will be greatly missed.  He was a man of courage.  He was a man of integrity.  He was a man who dedicated his life to the search for peace and for a better life for the Sri Lankan people.

I want to say to the people of Sri Lanka that we mourn him, we mourn your loss, we mourn the loss for his family, and they will be remembered in our thoughts.

I also want to note that it is the great hope of the United States that out of this tragedy people will once again commit themselves to a path to peace.  There can be no cause that is justified by terrorism and by violence.  And I want to say to the President, with whom I spoke just a couple of days ago, that we have been impressed with her vision and with the people of Sri Lanka and how they have responded to this tragedy.  But we call upon all parties to try and find a way to peace.

Thank you very much.