U.S. Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael Posner, said that three years after the end of the war against Tamil Tigers there is still “a big unfinished agenda” and that the US will continue to raise those issues with the Sri Lankan government.

“We’re happy that there is a Lessons Learnt Commission, but the government needs to have an action plan that really undertakes to deal with the reconciliation issues, deals with the issues of discrimination still going on in the north, and a range of other things to incorporate the Tamil population more centrally into the lifeblood of Sri Lanka,” he said.

Responding to a question submitted during a live webcast, Posner said the U.S. was not satisfied with the manner in which Sri Lanka has undertaken its responsibilities in terms of reconciliation and accountability.

He stated that during a meeting with External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris in Washington, along with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, they had highlighted these issues of concern.

“We had a very direct meeting about a range of issues that continue to be of concern, and we’ll continue to push.”

“We also played a role – a leading role, as you know – at the UN Human Rights Council in urging a resolution that dealt with Sri Lanka’s record,” Posner said at the Department of State in Washington.