Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Although the civil war ended almost 10 years ago, important work remains to make sure basic human rights are being respected in Sri Lanka. The resurgence of Buddhist Sinhalese nationalism poses a particular challenge to ethnic reconciliation. It is imperative for Congress to exercise leadership on this issue and ensure that a country as strategically located as Sri Lanka doesn’t collapse again.”

Opening Statements

Witnesses

Mr. J.S. Tissainayagam
Journalist and Human Rights Advocate
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Michael Jerryson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Youngstown State University
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. David M. Crane
Principal
Justice Consultancy International, LLC
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. John Sifton
Asia Advocacy Director
Human Rights Watch
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

____________________________

Hearing transcript (PDF)