Clarification on Testimony by Ambassador-Designate Sison

June 11, 2012

• Read in Sinhala (pdf, 76 kb)
• Read in Tamil (pdf, 24 kb)

The Embassy of the United States would like to clarify testimony made by Ambassador-designate Michele J. Sison about Sri Lanka before the U.S. Congress. 

On June 6, Ambassador-designate Michele J. Sison testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as part of her confirmation process as President Obama's nominee for Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives.  Her statement reiterated long-standing U.S. policy toward Sri Lanka, including calls for further demilitarization of the north, provincial council elections in the north, and mechanisms to deal with outstanding human rights issues.  Ambassador-designate Sison’s testimony is in complete accordance with U.S policy as well as previous statements by U.S. officials and also reflects the issues discussed during Secretary Clinton's meeting with Minister of External Affairs Peiris last month in Washington. Her testimony also noted the need for a broad range of partnerships between the United States and Sri Lanka. 

You can access the video of Ambassador-designate Sison’s full testimony here:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/AmbassadorialNom

The text of Ambassador-designate Sison’s opening remarks are available here: http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/st-6june12.html